How to spread kindness?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Emotional Ninja!
I'm glad you don't "strike back." Shows good character! Be well.

I find that kindness starts at home...before i had my meds adjusted I was a mean, grumpy person and rude even to my family. After my meds got straightened out i realized how poorly I treated them and determined to show kindness back to everyone in my family no matter what is happening in their lives, even if their reactions to those events are hurtful (I have 3 teenagers). I found kindness at home makes everyone happier and hope that it radiates outward. It is so easy to take my loved ones for granted and treat strangers better than I treat them. I'm also being kinder to myself...not beating myself up for my many failures and faults. Peace within spreads peace throughout.

Wow, wingin'it, good posting!
I agree. Home is a good place to start spreading the kindness. To be kind to your loved ones seems so obvious. Shouldn't we all be good to our loved ones?
Yet, people still treat their loved ones horribly sometimes. I can understand though for the task to be kind to them can be challenging at times.
I believe kindness will "radiate" "outward" as well. Maybe we should all give kindness a shot at our domains, at least by taking babysteps first.

Hey, way to go. Being kinder to yourself can be challenging.

Quick summary: Be kinder to your loved ones and yourself. Keep the kindness alive, everyone!

You're all awesome,
-opaque.

You got it, opaquemind0. Go for it.

I thought this was a neat story....

During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. ~Joann C. Jones

Thanks, Byzantine! I appreciate the encouragement.

Sunny, good story! Personally, those who "clean the school" or janitors deserve big credit. I know how messy places can be in schools, but to see it clean again is wonderful. These people work so hard, and I find they hardly receive credit. I used to know the janitors at my former school. Both were incredibly nice people. In fact, I met a janitor last year and talked to him briefly. What a good guy he seemed to be. I digress though..

People can be significant, no matter what their title may be. They really do deserve our "attention and care" more than we think, even if we "smile and say hello."

I thank you and Byz for posting!

So, I'm not giving up on this thread. I want the kindness to grow.

Hmm, examples of kindness. Well, ok. I was getting lunch, and this person looked at me until I look back. He claimed I looked so angry and such. He didn't mean this in a bad way, but I ended up giving a grin. A random person noticing me and making me smile. How great.

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.
Princess Diana