“Wash the plate not because it is dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta (And it you live alone, this still applies, by the way.) I loved this quote because it serves as a reminder that even…
Category: kindness
Much Better
“Be the person who breaks the cycle. If you were judged, choose understanding. If you were rejected, choose acceptance. If you were shamed, choose compassion. Be the person you needed when you were hurting, not the person who hurt you. Vow to be better than what broke you – to heal instead of becoming bitter…
Everyone
“Be brave because you are a child of God. Be kind because everyone else is too.” I’ve noticed something about myself lately that bothers me a lot. I have a really bad habit of assigning character traits to people based on a single behavior that I’ve witnessed – especially people that I don’t know well…
What to do with 21 bananas
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop For whatever reason, I was thinking a lot today about little things we can do to brighten each other’s spirits. The other day I found a handmade gift of a ring for me and a collar for Finn on my front porch…
Visible
“As the world fights to figure everything out, I’ll be holding doors for strangers, letting people cut in front of me in traffic, Saying good morning, keeping babies entertained in grocery lines, stopping to talk to someone who is lonely, being patient with sales clerks, smiling at passersby. Why? Because I will not stand idly…
Minions and Memories
“The truth is, not everyone can change the entire world, and not everyone needs too. All we can do is give as much love in our lives as possible, treat ourselves kindly, and leave the world a more positive place than we entered it. That is all I can ask of myself, and I try…
Kindness
Today is International Kindness Day! To mark the occasion, here is a fun mural I saw over the weekend during a road trip, along with a list of “seven ways to start making kindness the norm in your daily life” (according to a very nice random Instagram post I spotted this week): 1.) Send an…
Gratefully
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” – Maya Angelou Today is my day for receiving gratefully. The above zinnias came from a yard a few streets over, as the gardener was encouraging folks to cut what they wanted from the abundance. And I certainly wasn’t the only one eagerly accepting this…
The Strangest Gift
“The kindest people aren’t born that way, they are made. They are the souls that have experienced much at the hands of life, they are the ones who have dug themselves out of the dark, who have fought to turn every loss into a lesson. The kindest people do not just exist – they choose…
Big L
“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.” – Thomas Merton What I have…
Such a Difference
“Your impact on other people is bigger than you think. Someone still giggles when they think of that funny thing you said. Someone still smiles when they think of the compliment you gave them. Someone silently admires you. The advice you give has made a difference for people. The support and love you’ve offered others…
You can do the hard things
“Your life’s course will not be determined by doing the things that you are certain you can do. Those are the easy things. It will be determined by whether you try the things that are hard.” – Sheryl Sandbery I spotted mamma owl napping in Forest Park this morning. She’s such a pretty girl. I…
Love and…
“Okay, I know that there are terrible, terrible people out there, but listen… I also know that there are people who stop and smile at tiny plants growing out of sidewalk cracks, people who laugh so loud they snort, people who compliment others randomly, people who take pictures of their friends because they love seeing…
It all matters
“Your impact on the world is significant whether or not you are aware of it, and even whether or not you desire it.” – Gary Zukav I spotted this little heart with just a mile and a half left to go in my long run today, and it was just the boost I needed to…
Rule of Nature
“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is. Life is good…
Beyond Work
“Just be kind. Please. Just be kind. Especially during the holidays. Have an extra moment of grace, of understanding, of love. There are so many with stories of loss and struggle and hardships. And the illusions of the holiday and perfection and celebrations can make the hurt magnified. So just love. Smile more than you…
Simple Secret
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – The Little Prince As I tried to finish out my work day, I could tell that I was missing a gorgeous sky show outside. Admittedly,…
Everyone
“Be extra kind, and show respectevery chance you get.Keep reminding yourselfthat everyone you meet is a human being whodreams of something,fears something,loves someone, andhas lost someone.” -@marcandangel
A work in progress
I’m continuing to make my way through the “7 ways to be more kind to your mind” exercise/self-reflections that I found on Instagram from @laurajaneillustrations. Here’s the thought/action for Tuesday: “Choose to forgive yourself for still being in the “process.” Instead of saying “I can’t do this,” remind yourself that you are still learning, still…
You’re doing great
Goodness, it seems like the leaves are slow going this year. But I’m milking every glimpse of color I can find. Even the ones like these just starting the transition give me hope. Anyway, as I mentioned yesterday, I found an exercise/self-reflection on Instagram (@laurajaneillustrations) that I really liked: “7 ways to be more kind…
You never know
You never really know the impact you have on people around you. You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. You never know how much your kindness turned someone’s entire life around. You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk. So don’t wait to be kind….
Neighbors
“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” – Winnie the Pooh My Monday morning started out with this note on my doorstep, a darling portrait of me, my dog and my sweet little neighbor. The sentiment had me smiling all day. When I talked to my mom about…
God Wink
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalms 37:4 Over the past several weeks, I’ve blogged about the scenes out my backdoor as I’ve worked from home — particularly birdwatching. It’s been one of my biggest sources of joy during this pandemic. In addition to the…
Every Day
“We carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness.” – R.J. Palacio, “Wonder”
Love Made Visible
“As the world fights to figure everything out, I’ll be holding doors for strangers, letting people cut in front of me in traffic, saying good morning, keeping babies entertained in grocery lines, stopping to talk to someone is lonely, being patient with sales clerks, smiling at passersby. Why? Because I will not stand idly by…
hey there, friends 