“The simplest acts of kindness are far more powerful
than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” — Mahatma Gandhi

 

I used to wear a small button on my hospital ID badge that said Be Kind. It was more of a reminder to myself than any sort of suggestion or directive to others. We get so busy and frantic as we are engulfed by the myriad responsibilities that arrive with each new day that we often forget to be kind, to ourselves and to the other humans around us.

Why kindness? Here are some of the benefits:

Lightness of being. Instead of holding grudges and carrying resentment out into the world, kindness is extremely portable. Leave the negatives behind and your entire countenance will be lighter, more open and you will have available space in your soul to pick up some wisdom and beauty as you move through the world.

Connection. A kind word, a little encouragement and a welcoming smile seem to be disappearing from our society as we look into our smart phones for all manner of distraction and interaction. It feels nice to laugh with someone in the grocery checkout line or while waiting for the elevator door to open.

It’s Memorable. Simply put, kindness leaves people with a positive impression that they remember. Sure, we notice the obnoxious person who yells at the barista, but we remember the kind man who saw us juggling too many items and let us go ahead at the checkout. Research shows that people then turn around and pass kind gestures forward multiplying the kindness ratio and improving the ozone (that last bit may be fiction, but then again…)

Not a single thing. I mean it. Sometimes we extend kindness to others only to be met with impatience and rudeness and we simply have to take another breath and be kind again. The majority of time though, when I remember to have kind thoughts and try to greet the world with kindness, I find that I laugh a little bit more and rest a little bit easier.