"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again".
Og Mandino
My daughter and I were in line at the grocery store this past week. She asked me for an extra quarter and as I dug through my purse, I realized I didn't have one. As she began to question me, an older lady standing behind us, handed my daughter the quarter she wanted. She pressed the coin in my daughter's hand and told her to go enjoy it. I started to protest, really because I wasn't sure she could spare it. Honestly.
Such a small token of kindness made an impact on the both of us. Although there have been times when I have helped others....do I do it often enough? Do I take advantage of moments presented to me to be kind, and not just in monetary ways?
So, for this Valentines Day instead of buying gifts and focusing on the monetary, let us all focus on the kindness. Not people pleasing behavior, but genuine thoughtful words and acts. A random act of kindness every single day.
"Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle".
Plato
Great post!
ReplyDeleteRandom act of kindness.....the best kind! You never know who's day you will make better. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and something we all need to do more of. I truly believe if we all did just a few more kind things a week-we could change the world. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteLove this! You mirrored my own thoughts exactly. There should never be a monetary value applied to love. (Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDeleteYour blog is spectacular to me! What intense pics to stir the imagination! They made me think about the small town that I came from. Less than 10K residents.
ReplyDeleteI love to look at pics of old houses and wonder about all that had transpired there. The hard times, the good times, all of it! The house in your top pic was built by the sweat and tears of someone. I like to ponder what people went through to get their homes, and then consider whatever happened to them to come to this condition.
The kindness issue is great as well! Years ago, I started speaking to people that were walking past me. Just greeting them. No extended conversations. But I hope that my greeting them was the validation to each of them that they exist to me! It's a cold world, and we need to change that. We never know what someone else is going through. Our greeting could be the kind word that makes their day and brings them back from the brink of destruction. It boils down to "Do unto others...".
Thanks for what you're doing. I hope people try to commit to an act of kindness to someone every day.
Wonderful. We can all use a shot in the arm to spread more kindness (would that be like an anti-innoculation?!) :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this as I made my husband's breakfast this morning. One day of the year is not enough to show how much you care. It should be a daily habit.
ReplyDeleteVery nice post today. Makes one think. :)
wonderful!! And so very true!!!!
ReplyDeleteGREAT post. Many times a small act of kindness is worth more than we'll ever know.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely beautiful message today. I will make this my goal every day. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteTo pay it forward is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, sweet message--I'm "sharing" it on FB!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful suggestion. Those acts of kindness will last longer and have more influence than cards and gifts.
ReplyDeletesuch a lovely post... blogging is the best...i am so happy to have met you and i so enjoy all of your posts...
ReplyDeletei love how at the end of Ellen's show she always says "Be Kind". love that.
happy valentines day, my friend
kary and teddy
xxx
I'm glad you allowed your daughter to accept the quarter as I'm quite sure the giver felt very good about giving it to her.
ReplyDeleteWhat an important entry of yours !
ReplyDeletePlease have a good new week.
daily athens
Spreading kindness is a great reminder. Thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteKatie
http://pinkepost.blogspot.com
I love the idea and am inspired to spread some kindness of my own!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!
I love this post. :) Wouldn't it be nice if everyone thought this way? I love your photos!
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely idea! I heard this was random acts of kindness week! How appropriate that it falls in line with Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteI bet it made that stranger's day to give your daughter that quarter --- just to do something for someone else. Those are two terrific quotes. I especially like the one from Plato....so true.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very thoughtful post. I imagine that sometimes accepting a genuine gift is harder than giving. I hope you, I and your other readers will all work to be kinder.
ReplyDeleteI totally believe this. Perfect post for today!
ReplyDeleteI am sure your daughter made that lady's day! She made her happy and sometimes we don't care what it costs as long as we made a difference!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully stated.
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea ! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It may be more pleasant and useful to give a friend some time than an useless gift. Time to enjoy togethere, without hurry.
ReplyDeleteA good thing to remember and put in practice for sure.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, and so true!
ReplyDeleteExcellent to inspire readers like this. Cards, particularly at Christmas time, can sometimes seem like a chore to those who we are acquaint with. This idea seems to have a lot more meaning.
ReplyDeleteI've been on both ends of those little acts--haven't we all--and it's surprising what a difference they make.
ReplyDeleteWell said : )
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines day!
This is a long comment!!!
ReplyDeleteI fellow blogging friend put this on her blog.
Its so true, well I think it is.
'What Do Angels Look Like'
"Like the little old lady who returned your wallet yesterday.
Like the taxi driver who told you that your eyes light up the world when you smile.
Like the small child who showed you the wonder in simple things.
Like the poor man who offered to share his lunch with you.
Like the rich man who showed you that it really is all possible, if you only believe.
Like the stranger who just happened to come along when you lost your way.
Like the friend who touched your heart when you didn't think you had one to touch.
Angels come in all sizes and shapes, and ages and skin types.
Some with freckles, some with dimples, some with wrinkles, and some without.
They come disguised as friends, enemies, teachers, students, lovers, and fools.
They don't take life too seriously. They travel light.
They leave no forwarding address. They ask for nothing in return.
They wear sneakers with gossamer wings. They get a deal on dry cleaning.
They are hard to find when your eyes are closed, but they are everywhere you look when you choose to see."
-Author unknown
Happy Valentines Day.
See Yea George xxx
That's so nice! and what a great quote... I may have to borrow that one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post!! I think we all need to be a little kinder to each other! My son's girlfriend called me to tell me that she held the door open for a woman who in turn paid for her coffee! I thought that was so kind...she wanted to thank her for being polite. Kindness and polite behavior does go a long way!!
ReplyDeleteA great message reinforced with a beautiful little encounter. I really like that quote from Plato as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Plato quote. Kindness rocks!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet. Pass it on.
ReplyDeleteI like the Plato quote. Good words by you for all to consider -- thanks -- barbara
ReplyDeleteThe perfect Valentines day post That is a great quote and one I am going to put where I can see it every day.
ReplyDeleteWe should practice kindness everyday.
So true, Farm Chick. I've never liked how holidays can become so commercialized instead of focusing on what they really represent. Valentine's Day was meant to be a day when people expressed their love for each other by doing something special for each other.
ReplyDeleteDoing something special as a random act of kindness is so uplifting for both the doer and the receiver!
♥ Happy Valentine's Day!♥
I loved this post.
ReplyDeleteToday on my way in to work I held the door open for a very nice young couple and I was amazed at how grateful they were. So many people nowadays are in a hurry and just take acts of kindness for granted. So - while I felt good about 'doing' a good deed, I was very blessed by the gratefulness of the recipient.
Hope your day was filled with lots of love. Happy Valentines day!
What a wonderful story! Such a simple act impacted three lives....I love it and thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd a great reminder to show a little kindness!!
Love that song......"a little respect....."
I'll be singing that all day!
oh wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteLove the quote. So meaningful in our life and so difficult to apply at the same time...
ReplyDeleteJust came over from Southern Belle Simple...Love this post as it reminded me of a time when I was at a drugstore as a child with my mother. I could not have been older than five but asked my mother for a candy bar and she simply replied no that we did not have enough money (and we truly had no money!).
ReplyDeleteHowever, when we got up to check out, the clerk informed us that the man in front of us had purchased the candy bar for me because I did not throw a fit when mother said no. It's one of my earliest and fondest memories. I think it says a lot about how powerful kindness can be.
Thanks for sharing!