These days it seems almost everyone wants throw around the word kindness or they proclaim “I am a kind person” but what does that really mean? I am a kind person? What kind of person? If by kind do you mean the dictionary.com definition of kind says:
Kind: [kahynd], adjective, kinder, kindest.
Kindness is more than just a word in the dictionary. It’s a measure of love that we serve from our souls, from our very nature. It’s a gift given with no need or want of anything in return. It’s giving a little piece of yourself to someone who is in need of something they can’t have and you can provide. Sometimes it’s as simple as a smile. Other times it’s cleaning up after yourself to reduce someone’s stress. On an even bigger scale it’s donating food and blankets to your local shelter. Whatever the action it should always start with the thought of receiving nothing in return for your act of kindness.
How can you help?
- Be courteous. Hold open a door or offer someone your seat on the bus.
- Be responsible for your behavior. Don’t walk through life creating messes for other people to clean up or handle.
- Take ownership of your own actions.
- Donate food, clothing, and blankets without boasting about it.
- Help your elderly neighbor carry in groceries, mow their lawn, or volunteer to walk their dog.
The action itself really doesn’t matter. It’s the motivation behind it. As we start to move into the holiday season try to remember who you are as a person when things get hard. The stress you’re feeling might only be an aggravation to you, but it could be the one thing that’s keeping your friends and family down. If all you can offer them is a smile and a kind word then consider it. It’s free. The truth is that most acts of kindness are free.
Kindness isn’t about giving gifts, but rather the act of giving a part of yourself.
