The Ripple of Kindness

Just as ripples spread out when a

single pebble is dropped into water,

the actions of individuals can have 

far-reaching effects.

Dalai Lama 

 

Courtesy of Pixabay, Sandid
 

 

Kindness counts. 

 

I was at a local thrift shop the other day as I am apt to do when they give a discount to celebrate those of my age. A young man approached me as I was leaving and asked if I was looking for my shopping cart.

 

What a strange question, I thought.

 

As I made my way to the front of the store, I heard one lady speaking to a rather frantic lady. 

Did you lose your cart? she asked.

Yes, the frazzled one said, as she looked around for it.

I took it to an employee because your purse was in the cart.

 

The frantic lady was relieved and thankful. The helpful lady laughed it away, and said that it's easy to forget when you're excited looking for a great find!

 

As easy as that. Kindness.

 

I'm sharing this story from the side streets of life to remind us all. Kindness exists. (Tweet This) I saw it, the almost-had-a-terrible-day lady saw it, the young man working there saw it. And now you can see it too.

 

Start the ripple. Give hope, give kindness.

Let's all be aware of what we can give, what we can receive graciously, and the stories we can share. (Tweet This)

Now tell me, when did you give, receive or witness an act of kindness? Please share your story, we could all use some good news right now.

 

Stay well, stay kind.

 

 

 

What does one say...

...when we are all in isolation
in common, regardless of who we are
do we run to our shelters and bar our feelings and thoughts

or are we more brave than we thought

can we reach out and maintain a lifeline to a
stranger (on-line), a family member, a friend
what is our foundation for this un-experienced state (Tweet This)

What does one say...

are we welcoming of this distance

and know that alongside, we can still be fearful of how it will all end (Tweet This)
what are we made of
kindness  positivity hope belief
that all things will pass

although our shopping malls are closing
our fitness centres are dark

What does one say   Courtesy Pixabay Denise861

the sun was shining today
few people were out walking
but it was good to feel the cold
crunching the snow on yet un-cleared sidewalks

bracing against the wind
pulling up the hood on my coat

making my way back home
warm
safe
invigorated
to start a project
clean up the accumulated paper
wipe the cupboard doors

sit and watch mindless television 
yes, I've discovered
it's okay in the middle of the day

read and read and read

create not consume
reflect not chase
re-set
settle in silence.

changed.



* Isolation. These are not questions, they are thoughts to ponder (Tweet This)




Be well,

The Doors We Walk Through - Retirement Memories

on my retirement...

Have you ever thought about how many doors you walk through?

Doors that open to your future and doors you slam behind you. Doors that bring great promise and others best left untouched.

Tomorrow, I walk through a new door. A door that allowed me to create a safe haven when life was not going well, a door that gave me the means to build a life that I wanted.

Within those many doors, I met the most dedicated and diligent people. Folks who gave more with their patience and belief that they could inspire. Many held their lives together by threads as they too went through the unimaginable. And yet they continued to show up each day and be the best that they could be. They often offered to others what they themselves did not receive.

So it is with some bittersweet memories that I walk through my door tomorrow, as I hang up a career and hand it off to those who can be responsible to honour the promise we all made at some point to ourselves. Our futures are untold, but we can make a difference. I believe it and I hope that you do too.

Do you know that feeling of forgetting what was distinctly clear a minute ago? A word at the tip of your tongue? Something sort of important you wanted to share with a family member? Then, poof, it vanishes! They say that walking back through a doorway can help you remember.

As I face my doorway tomorrow, I have re-lived the many others I have walked through during my career. I have suddenly recalled long-forgotten incidents and heard the laughter of working late nights and eating pizza at our desks. Of fumbled new protocols and crashing websites that held us hostage for hours. Of small things that seemed so drastic then eventually waned in importance. Silly things, big changes, chilling hours, all marched along, lined up, then disappeared.

I will hold on to the smiles, the sharing, and hope that some of my words created an idea in someone. Believe in a good world but question when you doubt. Stay strong, with practice it gets easier. Work hard for your dream, you are the only one who can do it.

Make each day count.

Walking through a doorway to retirement. (Tweet This)

Each doorway you walk through brings you life. (Tweet This)

Living in Hope

Each day we need to choose consciously who gets the privilege of knowing us! We get to question who would we like to have in our lives, and who is best served by someone else.

Sometimes magically, we come across someone who ‘gets” us. Someone who doesn’t only say that they are into well-being, the creative arts or learning to play tennis, but actually shows us these parts of themselves in a sustained way. You can tell by the way they move through life that they have something to teach us.

Have you seen the writing walls cropping up where people can share their thoughts. You might have one in your workplace or I’ve heard of them in shopping malls and at street intersections. It allows someone to dig deep and do something meaningful. It gives the opportunity to lighten someone’s day, share a chuckle, spend your wisdom.

Living in Hope

Mixed in with the wisdom, you will see bits of pleading and anger too. Many struggling for a voice to unburden but not quite sure how to reach out with an open hand to receive. How difficult it must be to have so little hope and not know how to claim it. (Just perhaps this is where you step in.)

Among the drawings, the excellent chocolate chip recipe, the jokes and the I love you’s, I am sharing the words I read, here with you.

We sit in faith on this floating orb we call earth. Suspended among a zillion twinkling stars. 

We carry on each day believing that our world will not crash or explode and yet with so little hope for ourselves. Giving no benefit to our neighbour that they too will choose to do the right thing.

Why is that do you think?

The words found on this writing wall are a little reminder to keep living with hope.

Find something to hold on to and Fly! (Click to Tweet)

We sit in faith on this floating orb we call earth. Suspended among a zillion twinkling stars. (Click to Tweet)

See the previous post, Stop Living in Fear.