Kindness + Generosity Are Beams Of Light

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Kindness + generosity are beams of light.

In the darkest of places, hearts, + situations, a simple act of kindness + selfless outreach of generosity is the light needed to show there’s a better day coming.

Kindness + generosity are unseen treasures.

We may not always see the impact they have in someone’s heart + life, but rest assured that seeds were planted + warmth permeated their being — it’s the only response that can be created from something so pure.

Kindness + generosity can be uncomfortable acts.

Reaching out of one’s comfort zone to bestow something beautiful upon another is often something the flesh in us wants to withhold. But, when it’s willingly given new worlds can collide + be transformed.

Kindness + generosity provokes the heart to see beyond.

When someone has gone beyond themselves to shower such goodness, your heart can’t help but be provoked to see beyond as well. Although the outward reaction may not be what you expected, overwhelmed with appreciation, all hope is that their actions begin to speak of kindness + generosity too.

Kindness + generosity are the marks of humanity at its finest.

Humanity thrives in a community of ‘otherness’. And kindness + generosity provide the best platform for that to happen.

Kindness + generosity is a responsibility.

Not for one or two of us, but for all of us. Each individual life was threaded together by a hand of generous grace. Because of this, it’s our responsibility to hand out what we’ve been embedded with.

Kindness + generosity allows everyone to win.

You never lose anything by being kind + generous. But you do lose when you keep it all to yourself.

The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness. – Maya Angelou

11 Ways To Be Kind, Today

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Kindness.

I’ve written about it before + I’m sure I’ll write about it many more times in the future.

Why? Because it’s a thought I’ve been challenged by a lot lately.

Kindness can often be the most overlooked action + character trait in a person’s life, + society. Sometimes it can seem so simple to do that we don’t step out + do it. But the thing I love about kindness is that when it’s acted out, it has an effect + impact in another person’s life in ways we’ll never really understand or know about.

And being kind is simple: You simply have to open your eyes + look for ways to do it.

So, I’ve put together 11 acts of kindness. These are things that  I’ve personally done + want to do.

I hope it inspires + challenges you.

The world always needs more acts of kindness; it’s what makes it beautiful.

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 :: 11 ways to be kind, today ::

1: Meeting someone for coffee, lunch, brunch or dinner? Buy their meal.

2: Email your favourite writer, organisation, a leader or mentor in your world whose impacted + influenced you. Tell them the impact they’ve had on you, what you love + admire about them, + encourage them a whole lot.

3: Know someone whose wanting to break into a particular field + you happen to have a contact there? Endorse that person to your contact. Help people’s dreams become a reality.

4: Clean the house – I’m sure you’re family, roommate, etc etc will greatly appreciate this one.

5: Encourage someone’s potential + strength… not their weakness.

6: That person who you don’t get along with? Do something nice for them. Whether it’s a smile, hello, conversation, buying them flowers, or sending an encouraging message, be kind to them. Despite what they may have done, they’re human + they’re valuable.

7: Buy some sweet treats (or bake scrumptious cupcakes) for those in your world (work, family, neighbours…)

8: Be polite. No matter how rude you are being treated. You never know what may be happening in their world for them to act like that.

9: Buy a bunch of flowers + randomly give it to someone in the shops (the shops can be one of the most lonely places for people).

10: Write a thank you note, buy flowers, bake a cake etc, package it beautifully + deliver it to your local fire station, hospital or police station.

11: Know someone who needs something? Get it for them. Example: petrol – buy a petrol voucher. Not enough time to do the grocery shopping – buy some basic items for them.

…and in the words of Sir Ralph Waldo Emerson,

“be silly. be honest. be kind.” xx

100 Pieces of Kindness

100 tiny paper origamis, placed in pretty pink box, + tied with a white ribbon.

She gave it to me 6 years ago with a note saying thank you for being her friend.

She was shy + sweet, + we became good friends.

But after a few months, she had to leave + left me with that box as a gift.

I’d forgotten about her gift until last week when I rediscovered it spring cleaning my room.

Looking at them you can see that it would have taken her time + skill to create from the miniature pieces of paper.

We haven’t spoken since she left, but her kindness still speaks to me.

She could have simply written the ‘Thank You’ note, but instead she folded + creased + cut + packaged her thoughts into a box.

 “And when each of us looks back at all the turns + folds…in our lives, I don’t think it looks like a series of folded-over mistakes + do-overs that have shaped our lives. Instead, I think we’ll conclude in the end that maybe we’re a little like human origami and the more creases we have, the better.” – Bob Goff, Love Does

The Heart Of Kindness

 The other day a friend dropped off some beautiful flowers (yep, they’re the ones ^^^).

Receiving them, having done nothing to deserve it, warmed my little heart + reminded me of what friendship + life is all about; undeserved kindness.

They’re now on my desk + whenever I glance up from typing or walk into my room, it’s like having a piece of sunshine sitting there.

Kindness doesn’t have to be big + extravagant or well thought out, it can be simple + spontaneous. What counts is the heart behind it.

So, to my lovely friend who gave me the flowers + is reading this… Thank you. You brightened my week :) xx

When was the last time you showed kindness?