It is August 2011 and the images of the London riots are fresh in the minds of everyone. Shocking scenes of vandalism, arson, looting and aggression made front page news. Less well reported on in the media was the army of kind hearted individuals who turned up in droves, brooms in hand, ready to do whatever was needed to clear up the aftermath and get things back to normal as quickly as possible.
Kind Acts: Why Important?
A small act of kindness every day can have many benefits, both to the giver and recipient of the act. The giver becomes a little more selfless and more community minded. The recipient has restored faith in fellow humans and will likely be moved to show kindness to others in response. Thus a single act of kindness can create a "ripple effect" that goes on and on long after the initial considerate act.
Every day, people are presented with opportunities to show kindness. We can also actively seek ways to show community spirit and help make our neighbourhood a better place to live. If we act in a kind way, our children will be motivated to copy our example.
Acting on Opportunities for Kindness
Commuting to work or school can be a stressful experience, especially if the bus or train is full. Giving up our seat for a stranger is a small way that we can be considerate towards others. Giving a small donation to a charity collector, or buying a coffee for a homeless person are also opportunities that may be available to us every day as we go about our normal routine.
Even something as simple as smiling and saying "hello" to someone passing us on the street can lift the spirits. Connecting with other people by means of a smile and a kind word can put anyone in a better mood.
Do we have a friend or relative who is ill? A phone call, or even better, a home visit, along with a hand written card or bunch of flowers is a wonderful way to show others that they are important to us.
Creating Opportunities for Kindness
Charities and community groups are often desperate for volunteers. By giving an hour or so of our time each week to community projects can help us to make new friends, learn new life skills and really help those who need it.
If we hear about a local tragedy, could we write a few kind words of comfort in a letter to those affected? Could we help anyone in a practical way, by maybe helping an older person with gardening or cleaning chores? Maybe we could volunteer at a local school and help children learn to read, or help out at a hospital in the area. There are many opportunities for kindness.
Do a Kind Act Each Day
If each person had the aim of performing one act of kindness each day, just think about how our communities and neighbourhoods would benefit. The heartwarming scenes following the riots show that there are still many considerate individuals in our communities. When these individuals come together, they can accomplish much good.
Let us all have the goal of making the world a less selfish place.
Louise Jones - I have always enjoyed writing as a hobby, but started writing reviews online in February 2010 for Dooyoo, and later Ciao. In the beginning ...
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