There are numerous four-letter words in our vocabularies. Some carry heavy weight; some are just placeholders for thoughts we wish we could say out loud; some matter.
One four-letter word that carries a lot of weight is the word KIND. Being kind to a friend, a relative, a stranger, or a pet, no matter who the recipient is, being kind matters. Kindness Matters. Kindness is a matter of the heart, not just of the head.
What do you think of when you decide to do something kind? Is it motivated by what someone has done for you, and you reciprocate? Are you looking for accolades, recognition, or a reward?
Or do you realize that one act of kindness often leads to many more? I remember being in a fast-food restaurant line. Everyone was “paying it forward” by purchasing the meal for the person behind them. I was thinking, what if there were 5 hungry high school football players in the car behind me who had just left practice and were starving? Well, that was not the case, and it only cost me $8.77 to pay it forward that day. A simple act of kindness that hopefully made someone’s day. It made my day, too. I felt good about it. It was a matter of the heart.
Kindness makes you feel warm and fuzzy, often resulting in delighting someone other than yourself. That is not to say that you shouldn’t be kind to yourself. You absolutely should! I believe that to be kind to others you must first be kind to yourself. Are you kind to yourself? If so, how do you show kindness to yourself?
One way that I am kind to myself is to get my nails done on a regular basis. I get pampered a little, I love to choose bright and happy colors, and they look really pretty.
Another self-kindness is listening to an audiobook. I get to relax and listen, or sometimes I do light chores around the house while listening, with the aroma of a good-smelling candle in the air. Being kind to myself warms my heart.
I’ve read that those who are kind and compassionate have the joy of experiencing the benefits of well-being and happiness. With everything going on in the world, we could all use a little kindness in our lives. Being kind builds positive social connections, makes us feel good, benefits others and us, meets needs, yields gratitude, energizes us, ignites thankfulness, and much, much more.
Are there acts of kindness you’ve shown that you’d like to share? Is there one thing you can do today that would warm your heart, and bring a smile to someone’s face? Remember, always start by being kind to yourself, and the acts of kindness toward others will follow. Trust me, I know this as a matter of the heart, not the head. Always remember that four-letter word that carries heavy weight.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog, Kindness Matters. We hope to inspire, educate, inform, and share acts of kindness, compassion, encouragement and so much more. We appreciate you spending your time with us.
Always remember Kindness Matters!
Awesome Life For All
