The Kindness Bug
Catch It and Pass It On
Part 1
by Joy Cagil
Page: 1 2
In a community we are affected by the words and actions of each other. Witnessing any act of kindness makes us feel good inside, and when we are having a less than desirable time, a kind word or gesture carries us through the rough spot.
Sometimes, kindness from others is so effective that not only it can carry a person through a day, a month, or a year, but through a lifetime. I™ll give an example. When I was eight years old and had just started writing, my uncle praised a tiny, trite, little girl poem I had scribbled on a piece of note-paper. He didn™t talk down at me or tried to flatter me by raising his voice higher as most adults do when they want to encourage children, but he said his words very seriously and in private.
He didn™t tell me I™d be the next poet laureate or a famed writer, but he said what I had scribbled was good. Then he shook my hand to congratulate me. I was so happy, I was trembling inside; furthermore, I believed him for he was a serious man and a man of letters. Still I believe in his kindness. His kindness has carried me throughout my life, not only with writing, but also this is one of those memories I revert to when I need encouragement in anything.
Kindness not only gets us through a difficult situation but it is also contagious since human beings learn from each other. When we let another car pass in front of us on a busy road or let someone go ahead in a long line at the grocery store, we can be sure this kindness will be imitated by an observer if not by the person to whom we have shown kindness. Thus, if allowed to spread, a little kindness will build up to a better working, happier communities.
By kindness, I do not mean being superficially nice to others. Kindness is authentic and has to come from the authentic self. If a person lets his own family starve to send food to strays in a distant place, that won™t be kindness but a sort of showing off or a fooling of one™s own self. Neither is it kindness to tell a tone-deaf piano player he is the next Arthur Rubinstein.
One cannot invent kind acts by searching for people to be kind to or by brainstorming ideas about kindness. Life is all around us and all life needs kindness. If we go around life normally, we will meet many who may need something we can do. Most of the time, it takes just a tiny word, a scribbled line of thought, an act of sympathy, a smile or a nod in the right time and place to bring sunshine to the life of another person.

Author's URL: Acts of kindness
Joy Cagil is an author on a site for Writing.Com Her education is in foreign languages and linguistics. In her background are varied subjects such as psychology, humanities, mental health, women's issues, and visual arts. Her portfolio can be found at Writing.com --JoyCag
Page: 1 2
Are you looking for more information on Faith, Therapy, Healing, Self-Understanding, Psychological Issues, Self-Sabotage, Cosmic Consciousness, Artistic Inspiration, and Karma?
Pisces is the astrology sign that deals specifically with Faith, Therapy, Healing, Self-Understanding, Psychological Issues, Self-Sabotage, Cosmic Consciousness, Artistic Inspiration, and Karma. Learn more about Pisces.
The information here tells all about Pisces Astrology.
Pisces Horoscope