What Does Kindness Look Like?
Kindness is the act of doing something for another person without the expectation of having it paid back to you. In many cases an act of kindness cannot, in fact, be paid back.
Some examples of random acts of kindness you can perform are:
- Let somebody into the better parking space
- Help someone to get something that is out of their reach
- Stop to make sure that everyone is alright at the scene of a break-down or accident
- Hold the door open for someone
- Give up your seat for someone
- Take the time to visit someone who is shut in
- Make eye contact with the homeless person holding the sign --- offer them food
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Leave a really good tip
- Smile at someone
- Hold your tongue when you are angry
- Pay the bridge toll for the person behind you (a personal favorite of mine)
No act of kindness is ever too small or insignificant. My challenge to you is to take the time over the next several days to reach out to others in kindness. Even if you can only perform one act of kindness, do it. Hold a door open for someone with their arms loaded. Carry shopping bags to someone's car for them. Smile more often. Give up the best seat in the house for someone who needs it more than you (or even someone who doesn't). Take care not to respond in anger. Compliment someone. The ways in which one can show kindness are endless. The point is just to do it! You may never know the impact your kind deeds may have on others --- at least not in this life!
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