A friend said recently: “I always feel better when someone smiles at me. It boosts my mood.” It was in response to one of my quips and she is absolutely right: a simple smile can make a difference.
An act of kindness can have a major impact on the recipient. And here is the amazing part: It is free (usually), hygienic, ethical, moral and (usually) legal. Now is that not a subversive idea?
We spend our lives in pursuit of . . . stuff. Money, power, recognition, acceptance are lures society spends its time chasing. Is that a good thing? Actually, it can be good and it could be bad. It all depends on the outcome. But kindness is something each and every one of us has the ability to pass on. It could be as simple as a smile or a handshake or as complicated as necessary to achieve a targeted goal. Kindness does not have a template that one has to follow. It is just being nice to a stranger or a friend. It’s giving up your seat on the bus to someone who looks exhausted. It’s crossing your eyes and smiling at child who is just curious about the world. Kindness is the woman in her 80s who takes dog cookies when she goes out for her daily walk. She always asked the owner if she could give them a cookie and the dogs look for her. Everyone is touched. Kindness.
I wonder if it is a word and an act has gone out of fashion. That would be such a shame. We now have automatic doors so no one has to open a door for another. We have automated cashiers so we don’t even have to talk when we buy groceries. That is so sad. If we lose the desire to perform kindness then we will have lost far too much, perhaps more than we can afford.
A great kindness was done to me recently. I was having my kitchen counter replaced and so I was without a stove top. Hence no ability to make a cup a tea. (No, I will not boil water for tea in a microwave!) I love my tea in the morning. A friend knew this. She called and told me she was coming over. She arrived with a thermos full of tea. It was my tea, steeped appropriately. I would have survived a day without a cup of tea but she knew I would miss it. This simple act of kindness touched me deeply.
A simple smile as you walk down the street can lift the spirits of another. But we have to start. Each and every one of us has the ability to smile but its only true value is when we smile at another. I wonder what the world would be like if more people practice kindness?
We need to be kind to each other.
I love this post of yours and agree with all you say.
A smile, means so much. The acts of kindness and thoughtfulness you so eloquently describe.
Value without price tag.
By the way, we have ” areal life ” cashiers. 😊 .
miriam
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And I bet you smile at them Miriam!
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😊 I do,
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What a wonderful post.
Hubby and I both try to make at last one person smile every day. It’s free and doesn’t hurt. We have seen that a smile completely changes the face of a harassed cashier in the supermarket or a frustrated Mum. We were once asked what we’d done to improve the attitude of a particular shop assistant as she was always miserable. We said nothing, just asked her about her day and her cat! We’ve been away four years and went into that shop. She was still working there and her face broke out into a smile when she saw us. Nice to be remembered.
A smile has a knock on effect. It does raise your spirits. You stand taller, you embrace the day, you pass it on.
Kindness, consideration and thoughtfulness are also good tools between people. Helping someone with their shopping, giving a neighbour a lift, keeping the dog under control and cleaning up (today might be difficult if out), all things that don’t cost us money, just a few moments of our time. I remember so well my days in the High Street when the pensioners would come in and I’d make time to have a chat as some of them lived alone and didn’t see a soul from one day to the next.
We seem to have forgotten the important things. My Mum and Dad called it ‘manners’.
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You hit the nail on the head! Manners are not as prevalent as they once were. Sad.
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Yes, it is.
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A smile is a powerful thing. When I walk down the corridor of the nursing home each week, and pass those that are no communicative, I still smile at them and many smile back.
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You connect with them and lift their spirits!
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And you made me smile this morning my friend! Thank you. Pensitivity101 is absolutely right, it boils down to manners. I believe we’re taught manners, we’re not born with them. Just like being taught to walk or feed ourselves or ride a bike or tie our shoelaces. So what the hell happened to this teaching/learning process? Are we not being taught good manners anymore or are we not learning them?
Kindness. It’s such a simple easy thing to be kind…..the way we want others to act towards us. “Please”, “Thank you”, “You’re welcome”, “Excuse me”…..how often do you hear those phrases these days?
You can light up someone’s whole day by simply smiling at them, and the whole process only takes a few seconds. I think that’s a lot of bang for your buck!
There’s a line in a song that says, “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you”. Try it. You might like it! 🤗😜😉🤓
🐾Ginger 🐾
🍀🍀Happy St. Patrick’s Day🍀🍀
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This all started because of a comment you made and I agree with it!
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Hah! Me and my big mouth!! Lol.
🐾Ginger 🐾
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I love it! Keep it up, I’m listening . . .
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I would hope those in our legislative and executive branch would read this. Might make a difference.
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If only . . .
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Very nicely said Pam. 🙂 There is still kindness and courtesy out there and it can come from the most unexpected of places. I like to think chivalry is not dead – just yet. 🙂
In the meantime, keep smiling, and keep writing your Quips to keep Us smiling! 😀
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It is still out there but I worry . . . I’ll try and do my part!
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It is all any of us can do – and hopefully it will spread a little. 🙂
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You are so right Pam. I can see the patients’ expressions change when I call them if I smile and say good morning or i quire how they are. That in turn cheers me up. It’s a win-win situation. Have you watched the show The Kindness Diaries? It’s very sweet.
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I have not heard of that show. I’ll try to check it out.
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I think you’ll like it.
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As technology continues to isolate us, the random smile and act of kindness seems to go even further today. It’s rare and unexpected.
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I pray for the day when it is commonplace and expected!
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And didn’t the tea taste so much better Pam 😀
A smile or a heartfelt action is a gift indeed 😀
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You are absolutely right!
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I really love what you have written!! I have written similar to you. I am glad that you understand kindness and so thankful you have written about it!! One small act of kindness goes a long way!!!
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Thank you. We can all do this.
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This is wonderful! Even one kind word or act can change a person’s life.
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Thank you. It is our super-power!
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