How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start slowly, changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make a contribution toward introducing justice straightaway. And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!
Who’s behind this progressive, hopeful bit of wisdom? Anne Frank.
Acts of kindness, whether random or organized, not only help others but also help ourselves.
I. As a Guiding Principle
Henry James: Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.
Dalai Lama XIV: My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
Roger Ebert: ‘Kindness’ covers all of my political beliefs.
II. Helping Others
Richard Dehmel: A little kindness from person to person is better than a vast love for all humankind.
Annie Lennox: Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your modus operandi and change your world.
Leo Buscaglia: Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Albert Schweitzer: Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
Scott Adams: Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
III. Helping Ourselves
Psychologist Talya Steinberg :
Recent research suggests that kindness may improve resiliency by promoting feelings of and peace and supporting immunity. Cultivating happiness and peace is a key to resiliency because it bolsters one’s ability to stay grounded during difficult times. It also keeps the body healthy and helps ward off disease. Additionally, by improving interpersonal relationships, kindness can help build support systems so crucial during crises.
Harold Kushner: When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel.
IV. Is it just me—or does this video induce some eye moistness?
V. Organizations
It’s not hard to find other organizations promoting a similar mission. Here are a couple more:
This post is dedicated to the kind stranger who went out of his way one day this week to point out a great solution to my little (in the scheme of things) problem.
A very sage friend taught me this: If it comes out of your mouth it should meet three requirements 1.) Is it TRUE, 2.) Is it NECESSARY, & 3.) Is it KIND. If not you shouldn’t say it.
I always believe “two out of three ain’t bad”