New Opportunities to Spread Kindness

Great opportunities to help others seldom come,
but small ones surround us every day.
Sally Koch

 

Larry and I are always looking for opportunities to expand the reach of our kindness. It is not an unselfish act, because we benefit from it as much as anyone we encounter.

Within Three Feet or So

Carrie Newcomer is one of our mentors, through her songs and words of wisdom. She sings of the unlimited ways to practice kindness “within three feet or so.”

This has become a kind of mantra for us, as we consider how to expand our practice of kindness to include more people and in situations where we had not thought about the opportunities right under our noses.

As we discussed this idea, we realized that we were missing a lot of chances that show up every week. All it takes is a state of mind that is open, looking at people we encounter every day – at home and at work, as well as when we’re out in our community.

Expressing Gratitude

 Gratitude is an important part of any kindness practice. We all like to be acknowledged. A simple “Thank you” or words of appreciation can uplift someone’s day. They also uplift the person speaking the words. One benefit of gratitude is that everyone feels better because of it.

As we go through our day, we have many chances to make a sincere comment of appreciation. It might be acknowledging a nurse in a doctor’s office who provided good care, or the person who puts out the produce in a grocery store. I often will say, “You’re very good at what you do,” or, a simple “Great job” as I notice the results of someone’s efforts.

The key to expanding the reach of our kindness is paying attention and noticing whoever is in front of us. Even on the phone, when someone helps us as part of the routine of their day, a few kind words go a long way.

In Your Family

We often assume that people in our family know that we love them. It’s important to take a moment to acknowledge them and to express our gratitude for the little things that they do or just how much we appreciate having them in our life.

We all like to be acknowledged. A smile when someone walks in the room says it all. No words needed.

A simple “Thank you” makes a difference after someone has completed a chore. Even if a child or teenager does not do what we consider to be a great job, we can acknowledge what they did, before gently pointing out what still needs to be done.

The kindest thing we can do is to notice and engage with them. “How did your day go?” may lead to a conversation that reinforces your connection. If it is obvious that someone is upset “Are you okay?” opens the door to offering support when they need it. “Do you want to talk about it?” might follow.

When we notice each other, we find many opportunities to nurture our relationships.

At Work

Work environments vary greatly. Some are friendlier than others, but we can always add some kindness to any workplace.

Greeting people as we enter is the easiest place to start. Greeting them by name and saying a few words of acknowledgement starts the day on a positive note. It is helpful to relate to each other as they show up in the workplace, leaving politics or other issues that divide people outside.

When we’re part of a team, we have additional opportunities to support and encourage each other. In team meetings and problem-solving sessions, we have a chance to listen to each other, to acknowledge their ideas, and to add our own as an addition to, rather than instead of their ideas.

Wherever we are, little kindnesses make a big difference. As Carrie Newcomer says,

If I start by being kind,
Love usually follows right behind.
It nods its head and softly hums,
Saying Honey, that's the way it's done.

We’re wishing you joy and love on your kindness adventure.

     Image by HAMED ASAD from Pixabay

Click here for Carrie Newcomer's song, Three Feet or So

What are your thoughts? Do these ideas speak to you? Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

Help us to spread messages of kindness. If you know others who might appreciate these ideas, please share below.

We’re grateful that you are on this journey with us.

With love from our hearts to yours,
Pat and Larry