All right, picking up where we left off with
kindness. I want you to be grateful, okay? People
who are truly kind are easily able to express
gratitude. They don't take anything for granted
and always thank people for helping them out.
They know how to say thank you and really mean
it. They write thank you cards. They are comfortable
with acknowledging when... They have been helped.
You know, people who are grateful also thank
people just because. For things like making their
day brighter instead of only thanking them for
completing specific tasks. If you're making a
habit of being more grateful to the people around
you, you'll see that your capacity for kindness
will increase. If you're more observant of all
the nice things other people do for you, then
you'll be more ready to do things for others.
You'll be more aware of how the good of kindness
of others makes you feel and will feel more inclined
to spread the love amongst others. And with that
being said, now's the time to basically start
taking action. A better way to start doing this
is to love animals and the living world. Loving
animals and caring for pets is kindness in action.
Nothing compels you to care about being of another
species, especially in the day and age where
the tools of human domination are way so powerful.
And yet, the very act of loving an animal and
respecting the animal for its own value is an
expression of deep kindness. as well as being
kind to the world that sustains and nurtures
us is sensible as well as kindness itself. Ensuring
that we don't poison the very elements that assure
us a healthy life. Adopt or foster a pet is a
good way to do this. Your kindness will be rewarded
by letting another being into your life who will
bring you joy and love. Obviously, if the other
person isn't, then, well, it's time for them
to go. Offer to pet sit for a friend who is going
away. Give your friend a reassurance that someone
loving and caring will be tending to their pet
while they're away. Then on that note, respect
the species you're caring for. Humans don't own
animals. Rather, we stand in a relationship of
being responsible for their well -being and care.
With that being said, take time to restore parts
of your local environment with the local community.
Go for walks in nature with family, friends,
or even just by yourself and commune with the
world that you're part of. Share your love for
nature and others to help reawaken their sense
of connection with nature and, well, other people
as a whole. Second, share. People who are kind
are happy to share with others. You can share
your favorite sweater, half of your delicious
enchiladas. I have this bad habit of using food
as a reference, I'm sorry. Or even words of career
advice to someone younger than you. The important
thing is that you're sharing something that you
can actually keep to yourself, that you actually
care about. This is kindness. Instead of giving
away something you don't really need, you know,
give it to someone else. It's not more... It's
much more meaningful to let your friend borrow
your favorite sweater than to give her an old
hand -me -down sweater you've never worn. Sharing
with people will make you feel great on the inside,
and it makes you more generous and thus more
inclined towards kindness. Keep an eye out for
people who would really benefit from some of
the things you have. They may not always ask
for them. but you can offer them readily before
they admit that they need it whatsoever. Then
it coming from you will also make them feel even
much greater or better inside, knowing that it
came from someone they actually know and care
for. Yay! The next thing on the list that I have
here in front of me, as it may seem very trivial,
I want you to smile more. Smiling is a simple
act of kindness that can go a long way. Make
a habit of smiling at strangers, or at your friends
or acquaintances. Though you don't have to walk
around with a smile plastered on your face all
day, which in retrospect actually sounds really
creepy, smiling at people will make them smile
back, and will even bring a little shred of joy
to their days. Even if it's not a whole lot,
some is better than none. What's more, smiling
can actually trick your mind into feeling happier
than it previously was, even if you were pissed
off or upset earlier. Everybody wins when you
smile, and your capacity for kindness will grow
in the process. Smiling at people will also make
them more comfortable and make you look more
approachable, which is another way of being kind.
Being welcoming to others and even giving strangers
the benefit of the doubt by smiling at them is
another way of being kind. You know, relatively
speaking. Next, take an interest in people. People
who are truly kind are genuinely interested in
other people. They aren't kind to them just because
they want to get what they want from them or
because they are fishing for a favor. They do
it because they genuinely care about how people
are doing and want those around them to be happy
and healthy. To be more kind, work on developing
an interest in other people and show them that
you care by being attentive, asking questions,
and paying attention to them. and interest in
other people. First off, ask people how they
are and mean it. Ask people about their hobbies,
interests, and families. If someone you cared
about had a big life event, ask that person how
it went. If someone you know has a big exam or
an interview coming up, wish him or her good
luck. When you talk to people, make sure they
are doing at least about half of the talking
okay don't dominate a conversation and focus
more on the other person than yourself me personally
i hate talking about myself it sounds egotistical
and big -headed make eye contact and put away
your cell phone for god's sake when you talk
to people show them that you that they are your
first priority and not whoever's texting you
or whatever game you're playing next I need you
to call up a friend just because. It doesn't
have to be because I just told you to, or just
simply because it just seems right now at the
spur of the moment. You don't always have a reason
to call up a good friend either. Make a goal
of calling one friend at least per week, especially
ones you haven't seen for a while, or even two
friends per week, just to catch up and see how
the person is doing. Don't call to make plans
or to ask the person something specific. Just
call because you miss your friend and you've
been thinking about him or her. Getting in touch
with your friends out of the blue will make them
feel cared for and will make you feel good as
well. This shows kindness and thoughtfulness.
Another topic we'll cover later. If you're really
short on time, you can start by making a habit
of calling up your friends on their birthdays.
Don't be lazy. and send them a damn text message,
or even a freaking Facebook post. As convenient
as those things are, they don't have any emotion
-carrying abilities whatsoever, and it'll feel
more personal if you actually call them. But
give your friend a phone call from the heart
will also show that you've taken the initiative
to at least remember something important about
them. Oh, thank you. is a good way of knowing
that you're doing something good. And it makes
you feel all that much better. Donate to charity.
It's another way to be kind. it's also helping
out your community donating some of your belongings
to charity instead of throwing out your old things
or selling them for 50 cents at a garage sale
for so those of you who at least try to get something
for nothing donate the things you don't need
for a good cause you know if you have clothes
and books and other household items that are
still in really good condition then make it a
habit of donating these items to charity instead
of storing them up or tossing them in a great
is a great way to spread your kindness to others.
If you have some clothes or books that someone
you know would want, then don't just be shy about
donating those items to that person. This is
another way of being kind rather than being that
one person that knows the other person needs
it and sells it just because. And on that note,
perform a random act of kindness. Carry out a
random act of kindness with no expectation of
reward. Safe in the knowledge that One day, someday,
somewhere, someone might do the same thing for
you. You never know. These are the words said
by Princess Diana years ago before she died.
The practice of random acts of kindness is alive
and well as a conscious effort to spread more
kindness. There are even groups that have established
themselves to perform this essential civic duty,
if you will. Great acts of random kindness you
can do. Shovel a neighbor's driveway as well
as your own. Wash a neighbor's car or a friend's
car. Put money into an expired meter to help
somebody out. Help someone carry a heavy bag.
Or leave a gift on someone's doorstep. There
are many, many ways of taking action and doing
a random form of kindness. Finally, you have
to transform your life through kindness. Changing
how you live and how you view the world might
seem daunting, but take a note of Audis Huxley's
prescription for transforming your life. Quote,
end quote. He said, people often ask me what
is the most effective technique for transforming
their life. It is a little embarrassing that
after years and years of research and experimentation,
I have to say that. The best answer is, drumroll
please, just be a little kinder. You know, take
Huxley's many years of research to heart, and
allow kindness to transform your life, to transcend
all feelings of actions of aggression, hate,
despising, anger, fear, and self -deprecation,
and to restore strength worn away by despair.
Through being kind, you take a stand by affirming
that caring for others, for your environment,
for yourself, is the right way to live life.
It isn't immediately about effectiveness. Kindness
is a lifestyle choice. A consistent hum and rhythm
accompanied by every single thing that you think
or do. Through being kind, you let go of the
burden of worrying that others have more than
you, or less or more deserving than you, or are
in a position of superiority or inferiority to
you. Instead, kindness assumes everyone is worthy,
you included. Through being kind, you recognize
that we are all in this together, no pun intended
by that, when you harm other people. You also
harm yourself. What you do to support others
also supports you. And this must be considered.
You know, no topic that we cover here is irrelevant
or not that important. We cover it because they're
important and that people don't really think
about them too much. And they don't focus on
these actions, these abilities, or even the morals
that most of us should have grown up with but
didn't because of reasons. I don't go through
life assuming everybody knows these. In fact,
I assume that they have at least one or two.
Because even the most cold -hearted villain in
the world... Al Pacino, for one, or Magellan,
despite everything that they went through, despite
all the cool things they've done, still had a
heart. And this is evident for the fact that
they even had relationships with people in the
first place. Sometimes being kind doesn't always
mean doing the right thing. Or always being right
or telling the teacher when someone's cheating.
Sometimes it could be helping that person who's
trying to cheat. By teaching them the information
they need to know to prevent them from doing
it in the first place. Take that to heart with
you and consider your actions from this day forward.
This has been Kindness in the Moral series from
Thoughts If It Were You, Food for Thought. My
name is Neogentrics. Enjoy the rest of your day.