Remembering Kindness is King
February 12 through 18 is National Random Acts of Kindness Week.
It's one of the special observances on the yearly calendar intended to draw our attention to an important issue. In this case, it's designed to remind us that kindness is king. After all, it's on the Apostle Paul's list of sure fire ways to show your love to others.
But what if our kindness isn't random at all? What if we didn't just unleash our kindness randomly, but deliberately and on everyone?
Here are a few things we can all do so that kindness becomes a way of life and not just one week in February. Let's practice these thoughtful acts so they become a part of who we are all the time.
- Strengthen the bonds of community and make eye contact, smile warmly and say 'good morning', to strangers.
- Be generous to the wait staff or barista. Leave a tip worth working for.
- Close your mouth and open your ears. Give people your full attention and listen when they are talking to you.
- Remember to say please and thank you, and mean it.
- Be the first to apologize and take responsibility for a mistake - even when it's not your fault.
- Respect other people's time and make effort to not be late.
- Set aside time for fellowship with an elderly neighbor, friend or family.
- Buy some good-looking stationary and send at least one handwritten note a month to someone you care about.
- Bend down to speak to little children - and dogs!
****Some of these ideas came from a book: Say Please, Say Thank you by Donald McCullough.