Showing Kindness

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."-Mother Teresa
Whose life can I touch today?  To whom can I show a kindness?
"Remember there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."-Scott Adams

In this world of continuous stress and senseless violence, making a habit of showing kindness to those around us can transform the world.  Think of how you feel when someone shows you kindness for no reason at all.  No expectation of anything in return.  It leaves you with a sense of wonderment and perhaps even the desire to do something nice or show kindness to someone else in return.
What does showing kindness mean to you?  Love, concern, caring, honesty, integrity, generosity, warmth.  There are so many ways to show kindness and when you do good for someone, you feel good. It will increase your sense of self-worth.  It will promote an environment of gratitude.  It will also help relieve stress because you’ll be redirecting your energy towards something good.
When we’re kind or helpful to someone in their time of need, we often leave feeling better about our own situation. We always compare our lives to those we are helping and the comparison can leave you feeling so grateful for the life you have.
So think about what little things you can do.  Selfless acts doesn’t mean being a hero, it just means simply doing something for the sake of others.  It could mean helping make a meal for someone, doing household chores, visiting someone who is alone or ill.  
Cherish the life you have and be grateful.  Give back a blessing you have received. Change someone’s day.  Share a smile.
 “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try help another without helping himself” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Some ways to show kindness:

- Speak gently, be positive.
- Help people with no expectation of reward.
- Have patience with imperfections, overlooking others’ mistakes.
- Forgive easily and quickly.
- Put the needs and desires of others before your own.
- Share the good things in your life freely.
- Be genuinely interested in the welfare of others.
- Give of yourself, especially your time.
- Be polite and courteous.
- Share another’s burden.
- Listen patiently.
- Treat others the way you would like to be treated.