My calendar says that this is Random Acts of Kindness Week. From Feb. 11 through Feb. 17 we are asked to be aware of what one act of kindness can do. As a whole, we could benefit from more kindness in this country. There seems to be a lot of mean spiritedness and benign rudeness going around these days. I call it "benign" because it's something, really harmful or rude, that is said in a nice soft voice; sometimes with a smile. Maybe folks are too stressed or busy to see the effects ( call it damage ) of what they say or do to others.
So, this week we are being reminded that we could pay someone a compliment, give a hug to anyone who needs one and really listen to the next person who bothers to tell you something about their day. When you ask "How are you?" do you just want to hear "I'm fine", so you can go on to something else. Try a smile! It's amazing what goodwill this small act produces. I think I will write a hand written letter to a friend. A letter that says good things and , hopefully, they will receive the letter, read it and their day will be a bit better because of it....and you know what? We can do these things more often than just this week. We could make a habit out of being nice. This could catch on. It could be a Revolution of Kindness. Wouldn't this be a wonderful change of direction?
One of my sister's favorite quotes is Gandhi's "We must be the change we wish to see in the world". It is a great saying from a great man. I think that most people don't want to change anything, but let's try this week. Smile at someone and say "Hi"....... and see what happens.
So many gods, so many creeds
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.
-ella wheeler wilcox-
Black Swallowtail
