About this blog
Basically just a re-run of my first post for those coming late to the party…
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 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 when the producers of Comic Relief intend me to, 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 at all?
will it change anything – or anyone – else?
Well, we’ll see. Meantime, I’d love to know about your kindnesses…
And if you want to check me out in the rest of my life, here’s my website, small books where you’ll find details of my books, workshops, and other bits and pieces.
I have just read about your ‘flowers’!! i feel a little emotional now. You have made me think about all those people that i met when i cleaned in a retierment home in south-end and how attached i felt to those that had few or no visits. How i had planned in my head that i would stay in touch and visist, but then i would go home, get on with my day, i moved away and i never got around to staying in touch or visiting – life just seemed to get in the way. But reading about your flowers has made me determined to do a little something again. i will let you know when i have, and i cant wait to see how i feel!
As always, you have been an insperation!! Thank you!! i will be back!!
Thank you for the wonderful inspiration! The world definitely more of these kind of blogs and resulting rippling of goodness right now.
You might also love to check out: http://www.helpothers.org
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Happy to add your website to links section.