Kindness quotes
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The art of gifting
“The act of giving something to others is an art of flowering your heart.” ~ Vinayak There are many different gifting styles and practices, and psychotherapists have some interesting theories on that. Some people get a thrill out of selecting presents for their loved ones, while others prefer not to express affection with material things. A few folks I know discourage gift-giving because they don’t want to feel obligated to reciprocate; others worry that they’ll select the wrong gift. Of course, some don’t have extra cash for gifting in their budget. The most thoughtful presents come from the heart, no strings attached. For instance, a friend of mine is a…
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Love is as love does
“The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” ~Mahatma Gandhi Several years ago, I was knee-deep in the stress of caring for my elderly mother when I had to undergo a difficult, seven-hour cancer surgery on my face. The day after my surgery, my mother fell, broke her ankle, and was sent to the ER. As my mother’s only child, I had to rush to the hospital to manage her care — despite the fact that I was supposed to be resting at home with my surgical wound. It was one of those rare moments in my life when I actually felt…
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Bad manners and social graces
“Sometimes, to have good manners means putting up with other people’s bad manners.” ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr. American author Emily Post advised that having good manners isn’t just a matter of using a dinner napkin or refraining from passing gas in public. Courtesy, she said, is all about being “sensitive to the feelings of others” and putting them at ease. Civility is another word for kindness in action. A lot of people have complained lately about the general increase in rude, insensitive behavior — on the road, in restaurants, in politics, in grocery stores, and even among friends. If we’re not careful, boorish behavior will become our cultural norm (if…
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The challenge
“A part of kindness consists in loving some people more than they deserve.” —Joseph Joubert It’s so easy to be nice to like-minded friends and others who are kind to us. Yet the real test of our character is how we treat the folks who aren’t members of our fan club — especially those who hurt us or disagree with our viewpoints. I purchased the lawn sign in this photo because the message seemed like a breath of fresh air in our country’s contemptuous political climate. And I’m sorry to admit that, in the privacy of my home, I’ve said some nasty, judgmental things about others whose opinions differ from…
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Get glowing!
“Remember that you are, indeed, as the stars. You glow with the same intensity. The answers that you seek outside of yourself may very well be found within the cosmic intelligence inside you. Go ahead; show the world what you are made of! Sparkle, shine, light the way, and brightly blaze as you are meant to do.” ~Mishi McCoy Lately I’ve been obsessed with sequins, stars, and glitter. The way I see it, “sparkle and shine” shouldn’t be limited to Christmas ornaments, Fourth of July fireworks, or cocktail dresses. Though the holidays are over, I’m still carrying a Vera Bradley tote bag that’s embellished with sequins. And my new Skechers…
