Kindness. Do you think that the trait of kindness is innate, or is it something that we “learn?” I’m not sure that everyone is born with it, but I think that most people can learn to be kind … although it takes practice. By practicing simple acts of kindness, I think we can teach our children the trait by example. Kindness is my subject for this Only The Good Friday.
What do y’all consider an “act of kindness?” Bob Votruba says it can be as simple as “a smile, holding a door for a stranger, letting a driver proceed ahead of you.” It could also be big, like volunteering for a local charitable organization, taking cans to the food bank or clothing to the Salvation Army … or starting a national movement called “One Million Acts of Kindness.” That’s what Mr. Votruba is doing. He is trying to get people to set a goal of performing one million acts of kindness in their lifetime.
With his Boston terrier, Bogart, for company, Bob Votruba is traveling the nation in a painted bus for the next ten years with a message especially designed for young people on college campuses:
We are trying to offer inspiration to those wanting to better themselves by leading a lifetime of constantly spreading kindness to others.
Our goal is to reach out to children, teens, and young adults when their minds are open and their personalities are developing. We hope to teach them kindness, empathy and a generosity for others. By living in kindness they will discover the happiness that they can bring to those around them, and ultimately to themselves as well. It is crucial to recognize the importance of being kind to others; adults and teenagers can set the example for young children to emulate. Nothing could be more important in the world than this.
Mr. Votruba wants people to commit to doing fifty acts of kindness a day for 55 years (which would equal one million acts of kindness in a lifetime). It’s a noble and optimistic goal. I applaud the idea behind it. He’s absolutely right when he says, “Kindness will change the world.”
It would be nice, however, if being kind didn’t have to be an “obligation.” I worry that making a “pledge” might backfire. What about the kid who commits to this and a month later wakes up one morning realizing: “Crap! I forgot to do my acts of kindness yesterday! Today I have to do 100 to catch up!” Or, the kid who carries around a notebook, marking off the acts of kindness saying, “Lemme see … that’s 28 … oh, I can smile at that lady over there on the bench … that’s 29.”
I suppose that “awareness” is really the goal. I’d just as soon see people consciously commit to a single act of kindness each day. Soon they would be practicing kindness without even thinking about it. All it takes is the mind set.
If you would like to pledge to one million acts of kindness, however, I urge you to do so. Visit Mr. Votruba’s website to learn more … or maybe just give the man a well deserved virtual “pat on the back.” He has designated the week of February 8-14, 2010 to be One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Maybe we can help him in his goal to change the world?
Tell me something good that you know today. Is there something wonderful happening in your world? I hope so. And, I hope you have a weekend filled with only the good.
Here are some of my friends who also try to post “the good.”
RV Poetry; Candid Karina; All My Great, or Not So Great Adventures; Inside Mo’s Mind; Thorne’s World; Down River Drivel; Duward Discussion; Ramblings of an Unstable Mind; Insightful Nana; Newbie Lifeline; Everyday Tarot; West of Mars; Life’s Journey; Round Circle; Barbara’s Travels; Blog of Revelation; Desert Diva; Blogjem My Life As It Is
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Wow! What a great idea for young people. I hope this spreads through our country
It would be nice, wouldn’t it?
I didn’t remember that today was Only the Good Friday but here is my good deed.
I had to go to the post office for work. Leaving there I saw an elderly man with a cane, s-l-o-w-l-y shuffling towards the door to leave. I stood outside and waited until he got close and opened the door to let him out. We talked while he “walked” and I then helped him towards his car – he needed to step down off the curb. I had a blast and in reality it only took me about 3 extra minutes. My day had been really crappy until then and I’m glad that I stopped and took a moment for someone else.
I love it! It made you both feel good … and as you said, it didn’t take long to be kind at all, did it?
This is a great idea!
I had resolved to be kind this year. It is interesting how it works. I am actually more conscious of how I act and think. Purposely working on being kind seems to give me more control.
This would make a great hash tag on twitter. Any one know how to start one? #actsofkindness
Sheila
Sheila Atwood´s last blog ..Affiliate Market Blog – Learn To Build A Money Making Blog
That’s how you start the hashtag. Just write it in the tweet, and it is begun.
I’m with you on the obligation thing, though, I thought the kid with the little notebook was kind of cute. He could look back and pat himself on the back, soon it would indeed be habit.
But the other one, were you peeking at my life? I can so see that happening – or they would just give up rather than try to get 110 in a day or whatever.
Maybe striving for one more than we did earlier… ; )
I think many of us are kind at heart, we sometimes get lost in our thoughts and miss some opportunities to be kind more often, though. I loved Mel’s story. She didn’t miss an opportunity that some would have.
Happy Friday, Shelly. The world is a better place with you in it.
Marcia´s last blog ..Helping, It Cant Get Any Easier to Donate
Striving for one more than the day before. That’s the way to go.
Apparently “empathy” is a learned trait. Children who have been raised from infancy without being touched or treated with affection have difficulty expressing warmth towards others, while children who have been treated with tender gentleness will express sympathy at a very early age.
Jamie´s last blog ..The Unending Battle
Just watched a show about that on PBS the other night. It was dealing with children who had been abandoned in orphanages in the Soviet Union, and how they displayed some characteristics of autism, although the were not. They just couldn’t “connect.” All the more reason to be kind to children, eh?
This is a great idea. To see more people being kind would be marvelous. I’m afraid my post last Friday wasn’t good news at all. It was about a fellow Texan from Pfluegerville, a friend of mine, who has passed. I just shrugged off the “Good” as I was dealing with grief.
But that’s the point. I hope I remembered to be kind in my day to day activities. I hope I am a kind person. I think I am. You see, I don’t do it ‘on purpose’, I just do what comes natural, and I hope the result is noticed somewhere along the line.
Peace to you.
Spadoman´s last blog ..The Mexican Bench
I’ve told you before that grief can be good. I know that you are naturally kind, my friend. It emanates from your blog. And, the results don’t even have to be notices, as long as you feel it
. That’s the best part about being kind … it makes you feel good inside.