Everyone has it within themselves to practice kindness.
Just when we could all use a hefty dose of kindness these days, it is too easy to forget to practice kindness to those around us. Masks and social distancing are so important to our safety but can add to our hesitance to practice kindness.
What does kindness look like in a pandemic?
As always, kindness can take many forms such as holding a door open, saying hello, smiling, sharing a compliment. We can still do all of these things during a pandemic while staying safe. Did you know that if someone is truly smiling from their heart and not giving an obligatory grin, you can tell by looking at their eyes even when they are wearing a mask!! It’s true. I’ve gotten the best reactions from people they realize they can tell I am smiling under my mask. And then I can tell they are truly smiling back!
What is my favorite act of kindness?
I love to share my paper crafts as acts of kindness. You might be thinking, “Huh? What is she talking about?” I make cards and small treat boxes out of paper and I LOVE sharing them with others.
Most of my cards are sent in the mail so I don’t get to see immediate reactions. But I always find out about them. When a friend sends a photo from her home and I can see the mantle or the table in the corner of room, I often spy one of my cards resting there. Or I get a heartfelt text about a card arriving with perfect timing to brighten the recipient’s day. Or I get the biggest and best hugs when the recipient is home from a long hospital stay and tells me how exciting it was for the nurse to bring in the mail and say, “This is a thick envelope…I bet it’s another one of those cards!”
Honestly, I do feel like I get a lot out of these acts of kindness even though that is not my intent. To know that I made someone feel better for a few moments is an amazing feeling for me. But more amazing is knowing that they smiled, felt better, felt loved and knew that someone was thinking about them.
It is a remarkable gift you give to someone when you let them know they are thought of and loved.
You can be kind to friends AND strangers!!
I have left small note cards at restaurants for the servers to thank them for their friendly chatter and great service. During the holidays I try to carry small treat boxes with me so I can leave them as an extra thank you. After my first flight since the pandemic started, I was so grateful to the flight attendant who was kind and calm that I handed her a handmade card on my way off the airplane. I could tell she was appreciative of the words I said to her but when she realized I was handing her a card, she was stunned in the best kind of way.
Practice Kindness in whatever way works for you!
The beauty of practicing kindness is that it can take as many forms as there are people. Find something you can do to make someone smile and practice doing it with regularity. Eventually, it will become a habit and you may find yourself looking for additional ways to practice kindness.
We’ve all seen the memes to “be kind because you never know what someone else is going through.” So, don’t worry about picking or choosing just the right person to practice kindness on because everyone could use a dose.
Share how you practice kindness
Please share with us how you practice kindness. It can feel awkward sharing what you do because no one wants to appear to brag about what they do for others. But know that by sharing how you spread kindness, you might inspire someone else to do the same. Someone might be really wanting to make a difference and just doesn’t know how to start. So, please, share with us in the comments the ways you practice kindness.
Have a wonderful day!!
Be kind. Be well.
Elisa
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