WEBVTT 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:09.980 All right, picking up where we left off with 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:15.779 kindness. I want you to be grateful, okay? People 00:00:15.779 --> 00:00:18.780 who are truly kind are easily able to express 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:21.399 gratitude. They don't take anything for granted 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:23.579 and always thank people for helping them out. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:26.000 They know how to say thank you and really mean 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:29.019 it. They write thank you cards. They are comfortable 00:00:29.019 --> 00:00:31.660 with acknowledging when... They have been helped. 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:34.100 You know, people who are grateful also thank 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:37.579 people just because. For things like making their 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:39.740 day brighter instead of only thanking them for 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:42.500 completing specific tasks. If you're making a 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:44.560 habit of being more grateful to the people around 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.079 you, you'll see that your capacity for kindness 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:52.070 will increase. If you're more observant of all 00:00:52.070 --> 00:00:55.009 the nice things other people do for you, then 00:00:55.009 --> 00:00:57.149 you'll be more ready to do things for others. 00:00:57.270 --> 00:00:59.950 You'll be more aware of how the good of kindness 00:00:59.950 --> 00:01:05.390 of others makes you feel and will feel more inclined 00:01:05.390 --> 00:01:09.629 to spread the love amongst others. And with that 00:01:09.629 --> 00:01:12.189 being said, now's the time to basically start 00:01:12.189 --> 00:01:18.859 taking action. A better way to start doing this 00:01:18.859 --> 00:01:22.840 is to love animals and the living world. Loving 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:25.780 animals and caring for pets is kindness in action. 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:29.840 Nothing compels you to care about being of another 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.840 species, especially in the day and age where 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:34.739 the tools of human domination are way so powerful. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:38.739 And yet, the very act of loving an animal and 00:01:38.739 --> 00:01:41.480 respecting the animal for its own value is an 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:44.409 expression of deep kindness. as well as being 00:01:44.409 --> 00:01:46.609 kind to the world that sustains and nurtures 00:01:46.609 --> 00:01:52.170 us is sensible as well as kindness itself. Ensuring 00:01:52.170 --> 00:01:54.650 that we don't poison the very elements that assure 00:01:54.650 --> 00:01:59.030 us a healthy life. Adopt or foster a pet is a 00:01:59.030 --> 00:02:02.629 good way to do this. Your kindness will be rewarded 00:02:02.629 --> 00:02:04.790 by letting another being into your life who will 00:02:04.790 --> 00:02:07.689 bring you joy and love. Obviously, if the other 00:02:07.689 --> 00:02:10.090 person isn't, then, well, it's time for them 00:02:10.090 --> 00:02:13.990 to go. Offer to pet sit for a friend who is going 00:02:13.990 --> 00:02:16.569 away. Give your friend a reassurance that someone 00:02:16.569 --> 00:02:19.889 loving and caring will be tending to their pet 00:02:19.889 --> 00:02:23.030 while they're away. Then on that note, respect 00:02:23.030 --> 00:02:26.669 the species you're caring for. Humans don't own 00:02:26.669 --> 00:02:29.349 animals. Rather, we stand in a relationship of 00:02:29.349 --> 00:02:31.509 being responsible for their well -being and care. 00:02:32.909 --> 00:02:35.490 With that being said, take time to restore parts 00:02:35.490 --> 00:02:37.509 of your local environment with the local community. 00:02:37.830 --> 00:02:40.629 Go for walks in nature with family, friends, 00:02:40.770 --> 00:02:42.650 or even just by yourself and commune with the 00:02:42.650 --> 00:02:45.650 world that you're part of. Share your love for 00:02:45.650 --> 00:02:48.030 nature and others to help reawaken their sense 00:02:48.030 --> 00:02:50.909 of connection with nature and, well, other people 00:02:50.909 --> 00:02:56.189 as a whole. Second, share. People who are kind 00:02:56.189 --> 00:02:58.509 are happy to share with others. You can share 00:02:58.509 --> 00:03:00.069 your favorite sweater, half of your delicious 00:03:00.069 --> 00:03:03.310 enchiladas. I have this bad habit of using food 00:03:03.310 --> 00:03:06.729 as a reference, I'm sorry. Or even words of career 00:03:06.729 --> 00:03:09.310 advice to someone younger than you. The important 00:03:09.310 --> 00:03:11.409 thing is that you're sharing something that you 00:03:11.409 --> 00:03:14.729 can actually keep to yourself, that you actually 00:03:14.729 --> 00:03:18.150 care about. This is kindness. Instead of giving 00:03:18.150 --> 00:03:20.629 away something you don't really need, you know, 00:03:20.629 --> 00:03:27.610 give it to someone else. It's not more... It's 00:03:27.610 --> 00:03:30.030 much more meaningful to let your friend borrow 00:03:30.030 --> 00:03:32.889 your favorite sweater than to give her an old 00:03:32.889 --> 00:03:36.530 hand -me -down sweater you've never worn. Sharing 00:03:36.530 --> 00:03:41.229 with people will make you feel great on the inside, 00:03:41.349 --> 00:03:44.250 and it makes you more generous and thus more 00:03:44.250 --> 00:03:46.889 inclined towards kindness. Keep an eye out for 00:03:46.889 --> 00:03:49.310 people who would really benefit from some of 00:03:49.310 --> 00:03:52.669 the things you have. They may not always ask 00:03:52.669 --> 00:03:54.960 for them. but you can offer them readily before 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:59.159 they admit that they need it whatsoever. Then 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:02.039 it coming from you will also make them feel even 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:07.240 much greater or better inside, knowing that it 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:08.960 came from someone they actually know and care 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:17.680 for. Yay! The next thing on the list that I have 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:22.439 here in front of me, as it may seem very trivial, 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:25.680 I want you to smile more. Smiling is a simple 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.100 act of kindness that can go a long way. Make 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:30.660 a habit of smiling at strangers, or at your friends 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:33.019 or acquaintances. Though you don't have to walk 00:04:33.019 --> 00:04:34.980 around with a smile plastered on your face all 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:38.100 day, which in retrospect actually sounds really 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:40.759 creepy, smiling at people will make them smile 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:46.040 back, and will even bring a little shred of joy 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:48.699 to their days. Even if it's not a whole lot, 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:51.750 some is better than none. What's more, smiling 00:04:51.750 --> 00:04:53.689 can actually trick your mind into feeling happier 00:04:53.689 --> 00:04:56.029 than it previously was, even if you were pissed 00:04:56.029 --> 00:04:59.129 off or upset earlier. Everybody wins when you 00:04:59.129 --> 00:05:01.110 smile, and your capacity for kindness will grow 00:05:01.110 --> 00:05:04.470 in the process. Smiling at people will also make 00:05:04.470 --> 00:05:06.910 them more comfortable and make you look more 00:05:06.910 --> 00:05:08.930 approachable, which is another way of being kind. 00:05:09.069 --> 00:05:11.870 Being welcoming to others and even giving strangers 00:05:11.870 --> 00:05:14.050 the benefit of the doubt by smiling at them is 00:05:14.050 --> 00:05:17.449 another way of being kind. You know, relatively 00:05:17.449 --> 00:05:21.110 speaking. Next, take an interest in people. People 00:05:21.110 --> 00:05:23.430 who are truly kind are genuinely interested in 00:05:23.430 --> 00:05:26.410 other people. They aren't kind to them just because 00:05:26.410 --> 00:05:28.790 they want to get what they want from them or 00:05:28.790 --> 00:05:31.490 because they are fishing for a favor. They do 00:05:31.490 --> 00:05:33.329 it because they genuinely care about how people 00:05:33.329 --> 00:05:35.310 are doing and want those around them to be happy 00:05:35.310 --> 00:05:38.550 and healthy. To be more kind, work on developing 00:05:38.550 --> 00:05:40.290 an interest in other people and show them that 00:05:40.290 --> 00:05:43.829 you care by being attentive, asking questions, 00:05:43.970 --> 00:05:48.610 and paying attention to them. and interest in 00:05:48.610 --> 00:05:52.050 other people. First off, ask people how they 00:05:52.050 --> 00:05:55.410 are and mean it. Ask people about their hobbies, 00:05:55.529 --> 00:05:58.430 interests, and families. If someone you cared 00:05:58.430 --> 00:06:02.649 about had a big life event, ask that person how 00:06:02.649 --> 00:06:05.550 it went. If someone you know has a big exam or 00:06:05.550 --> 00:06:07.790 an interview coming up, wish him or her good 00:06:07.790 --> 00:06:11.279 luck. When you talk to people, make sure they 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:13.639 are doing at least about half of the talking 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.420 okay don't dominate a conversation and focus 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:19.800 more on the other person than yourself me personally 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:22.800 i hate talking about myself it sounds egotistical 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:26.779 and big -headed make eye contact and put away 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:28.800 your cell phone for god's sake when you talk 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.360 to people show them that you that they are your 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:34.579 first priority and not whoever's texting you 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:39.069 or whatever game you're playing next I need you 00:06:39.069 --> 00:06:41.529 to call up a friend just because. It doesn't 00:06:41.529 --> 00:06:44.649 have to be because I just told you to, or just 00:06:44.649 --> 00:06:47.189 simply because it just seems right now at the 00:06:47.189 --> 00:06:50.850 spur of the moment. You don't always have a reason 00:06:50.850 --> 00:06:53.589 to call up a good friend either. Make a goal 00:06:53.589 --> 00:06:56.930 of calling one friend at least per week, especially 00:06:56.930 --> 00:06:59.009 ones you haven't seen for a while, or even two 00:06:59.009 --> 00:07:01.290 friends per week, just to catch up and see how 00:07:01.290 --> 00:07:03.939 the person is doing. Don't call to make plans 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:06.600 or to ask the person something specific. Just 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:08.220 call because you miss your friend and you've 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:10.660 been thinking about him or her. Getting in touch 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:12.660 with your friends out of the blue will make them 00:07:12.660 --> 00:07:15.379 feel cared for and will make you feel good as 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:18.639 well. This shows kindness and thoughtfulness. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:22.120 Another topic we'll cover later. If you're really 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:24.339 short on time, you can start by making a habit 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:26.220 of calling up your friends on their birthdays. 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:29.769 Don't be lazy. and send them a damn text message, 00:07:29.930 --> 00:07:33.170 or even a freaking Facebook post. As convenient 00:07:33.170 --> 00:07:36.029 as those things are, they don't have any emotion 00:07:36.029 --> 00:07:38.550 -carrying abilities whatsoever, and it'll feel 00:07:38.550 --> 00:07:41.610 more personal if you actually call them. But 00:07:41.610 --> 00:07:44.370 give your friend a phone call from the heart 00:07:44.370 --> 00:07:47.110 will also show that you've taken the initiative 00:07:47.110 --> 00:07:49.490 to at least remember something important about 00:07:49.490 --> 00:07:59.170 them. Oh, thank you. is a good way of knowing 00:07:59.170 --> 00:08:02.069 that you're doing something good. And it makes 00:08:02.069 --> 00:08:06.110 you feel all that much better. Donate to charity. 00:08:06.730 --> 00:08:10.850 It's another way to be kind. it's also helping 00:08:10.850 --> 00:08:13.370 out your community donating some of your belongings 00:08:13.370 --> 00:08:15.350 to charity instead of throwing out your old things 00:08:15.350 --> 00:08:17.470 or selling them for 50 cents at a garage sale 00:08:17.470 --> 00:08:19.790 for so those of you who at least try to get something 00:08:19.790 --> 00:08:22.529 for nothing donate the things you don't need 00:08:22.529 --> 00:08:24.810 for a good cause you know if you have clothes 00:08:24.810 --> 00:08:26.470 and books and other household items that are 00:08:26.470 --> 00:08:29.389 still in really good condition then make it a 00:08:29.389 --> 00:08:31.310 habit of donating these items to charity instead 00:08:31.310 --> 00:08:33.649 of storing them up or tossing them in a great 00:08:34.569 --> 00:08:36.990 is a great way to spread your kindness to others. 00:08:37.190 --> 00:08:39.590 If you have some clothes or books that someone 00:08:39.590 --> 00:08:43.629 you know would want, then don't just be shy about 00:08:43.629 --> 00:08:46.190 donating those items to that person. This is 00:08:46.190 --> 00:08:48.149 another way of being kind rather than being that 00:08:48.149 --> 00:08:50.029 one person that knows the other person needs 00:08:50.029 --> 00:08:55.789 it and sells it just because. And on that note, 00:08:55.850 --> 00:08:58.490 perform a random act of kindness. Carry out a 00:08:58.490 --> 00:09:00.990 random act of kindness with no expectation of 00:09:00.990 --> 00:09:05.120 reward. Safe in the knowledge that One day, someday, 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.980 somewhere, someone might do the same thing for 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:11.379 you. You never know. These are the words said 00:09:11.379 --> 00:09:14.179 by Princess Diana years ago before she died. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:18.600 The practice of random acts of kindness is alive 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:21.919 and well as a conscious effort to spread more 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:24.759 kindness. There are even groups that have established 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:28.139 themselves to perform this essential civic duty, 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:35.759 if you will. Great acts of random kindness you 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.960 can do. Shovel a neighbor's driveway as well 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:42.720 as your own. Wash a neighbor's car or a friend's 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:46.399 car. Put money into an expired meter to help 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.899 somebody out. Help someone carry a heavy bag. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:55.879 Or leave a gift on someone's doorstep. There 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:59.460 are many, many ways of taking action and doing 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:18.259 a random form of kindness. Finally, you have 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:21.460 to transform your life through kindness. Changing 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:23.620 how you live and how you view the world might 00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:27.620 seem daunting, but take a note of Audis Huxley's 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:30.960 prescription for transforming your life. Quote, 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:34.179 end quote. He said, people often ask me what 00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:36.519 is the most effective technique for transforming 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:39.279 their life. It is a little embarrassing that 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:41.539 after years and years of research and experimentation, 00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:46.450 I have to say that. The best answer is, drumroll 00:10:46.450 --> 00:10:53.210 please, just be a little kinder. You know, take 00:10:53.210 --> 00:10:57.389 Huxley's many years of research to heart, and 00:10:57.389 --> 00:10:59.529 allow kindness to transform your life, to transcend 00:10:59.529 --> 00:11:02.149 all feelings of actions of aggression, hate, 00:11:02.250 --> 00:11:05.490 despising, anger, fear, and self -deprecation, 00:11:05.549 --> 00:11:08.110 and to restore strength worn away by despair. 00:11:09.289 --> 00:11:12.110 Through being kind, you take a stand by affirming 00:11:12.110 --> 00:11:15.309 that caring for others, for your environment, 00:11:15.409 --> 00:11:17.509 for yourself, is the right way to live life. 00:11:17.970 --> 00:11:24.110 It isn't immediately about effectiveness. Kindness 00:11:24.110 --> 00:11:29.009 is a lifestyle choice. A consistent hum and rhythm 00:11:29.009 --> 00:11:31.690 accompanied by every single thing that you think 00:11:31.690 --> 00:11:35.919 or do. Through being kind, you let go of the 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:38.279 burden of worrying that others have more than 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:43.159 you, or less or more deserving than you, or are 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:45.820 in a position of superiority or inferiority to 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:48.419 you. Instead, kindness assumes everyone is worthy, 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:51.899 you included. Through being kind, you recognize 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:55.139 that we are all in this together, no pun intended 00:11:55.139 --> 00:12:01.220 by that, when you harm other people. You also 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:05.000 harm yourself. What you do to support others 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:08.960 also supports you. And this must be considered. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:14.919 You know, no topic that we cover here is irrelevant 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:19.460 or not that important. We cover it because they're 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:21.539 important and that people don't really think 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:24.080 about them too much. And they don't focus on 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:27.700 these actions, these abilities, or even the morals 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.659 that most of us should have grown up with but 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:33.039 didn't because of reasons. I don't go through 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:37.059 life assuming everybody knows these. In fact, 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.360 I assume that they have at least one or two. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:44.759 Because even the most cold -hearted villain in 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:49.200 the world... Al Pacino, for one, or Magellan, 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:53.440 despite everything that they went through, despite 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:56.240 all the cool things they've done, still had a 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.879 heart. And this is evident for the fact that 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.799 they even had relationships with people in the 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:06.120 first place. Sometimes being kind doesn't always 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:10.080 mean doing the right thing. Or always being right 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.519 or telling the teacher when someone's cheating. 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:15.080 Sometimes it could be helping that person who's 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:17.559 trying to cheat. By teaching them the information 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:19.419 they need to know to prevent them from doing 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:24.059 it in the first place. Take that to heart with 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:26.799 you and consider your actions from this day forward. 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:31.120 This has been Kindness in the Moral series from 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:34.240 Thoughts If It Were You, Food for Thought. My 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.700 name is Neogentrics. Enjoy the rest of your day.