“Don’t be yourself – be someone a little nicer.” Mignon McLaughlin

There’s not a self- help book that doesn’t suggest a part of making life better for ourselves is making life better for others:  practice acts of kindness, in other words.

Just yesterday someone tweeted me yet another list of suggestions for making the world an everso slightly better place.
Fair enough. I hope I’m a decent enough person already. Sort of averagely kind, like most people. I make monthly donations to local charities via Milton Keynes Community Foundation, I’m nice to my relatives, I cry during charity appeals, I can’t walk past a Big Issue seller without buying a copy, and I volunteer for things (then moan about having too much on).

 So far, so comfortable. Nothing there that millions of others don’t do. Nothing that takes me even close to the edge of my comfort zone. Nothing more, in truth, than a bit of cash and a bit (more) time.

 

a smile from the birds

Deliberate acts of kindness

 But what if I really meant it? If instead of being motivated by duty (relatives) … or embarrassment (beggars)…… or guilt (too much to mention) … or needing to look good in front of other people (cringe), I truly made an effort to be a nicer person?

 No random acts of kindness, but a very deliberate experiment with my own life: if I’m nicer, if I make an effort to carry out at least one conscious act of kindness every day, then

will it change me in any way?
will it change my life in any way?
will it change anything – or anyone – else?

 
Well, we’ll see. And if acts of kindness is something you’re into, do let me know. I’ll certainly be looking for ideas.