If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. Pennsylvania founder- William Penn
I don’t think there were many dry eyes in the nation when President Barack Obama was inaugurated with millions cheering him!
However, the picture that keeps coming into my mind is a video of a skinny black guy painting a wall blue in a shelter for young teen age boys the day before.
Waitaminute! Was that the President? It was. And he looked like he had painted before. He knew how to do it.
Did you notice how carefully he rolled the paint just to the edge of the ceiling so it could be cut in later?
It was worth 1000 words of talk about responsibility and helping each other.
The key word for that day was “service.” And the first thing that came to many of us is “What could I possibly do to give service to the world?” It was a call which needed an answer.
We are certainly busy enough as we are just trying to survive in this economy with the normal responsibilities of everyday life. Do we have time to take on a big project? Can we make a real contribution somewhere?
I am a faithful reader of AdversityUniversityblog.com which is authored by Stephen Hopson. Last week, he continued an interview with Michael J. Chase. Michael has a blog called The Kindness Center.
A bell went off. Perhaps even small acts count.
Michael said -
I truly believe that if we are to change the world, we must not put the responsibility on other people or even God. To change the world we must change our own hearts. The Dalai Lama has said that “world peace begins with inner peace” – Mahatma Gandhi told us “You must be the change you want to see in the world” – and even Jesus told us that “you can do all that I have done…and still greater things.” These great spiritual warriors have continually reminded us that, we are the change – we are the peace – and a better world becomes possible when we express our divine purpose here on earth…to serve, to love, and to meet all of life with a kind heart.
We are nice people. We are kind people.
But it occurred to me that if we did JUST ONE MORE KIND THING each day, we could change the consciousness of the world. Think of all that good energy going out.
Nothing heroic. Paying a toll for the car behind you.
Your neighbor has had a death in the family. You brought a cake. But what about showing up at 9 PM to walk their dog?
Those poor ladies who approach you outside the supermarket for a dollar for carfare. (They should get a better script) What’s a dollar to you? Maybe they really do need it. And if they don’t, who cares?
Calling a boring friend who always is a downer. Call anyway. 15 minutes won’t kill you and it might help your friend to have your attention. You can always cut off the conversation because you have something about to burn in the oven.
Your son’s friend has a mother who is sick. Make double of what you are serving for dinner and drop it off.
And my favorite. Putting money in a parking meter that has expired. This is especially fun if the meter maid is about to write a ticket. It has a kind of GOTCHA satisfaction.
I am a lousy painter. Don’t expect me to be anywhere to paint. You would be sorry.
But I am going to do SOMETHING. Maybe even anonymously.
What can you suggest to change the consciousness of the world? Tell us.
Here is Stephen’s interview. You’ll love it.
Here is Michael’s blog. I will be following it.
Photo by Getty Images
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
You know something Corinne? That interview with Michael Chase also got me thinking because it aired right around the time Obama was sending out a message to Americans to volunteer and make a difference.
Like you, I felt a calling to extend the act of kindness and now you’re getting in on the act. That’s GREAT. It’s a reminder for me to pursue volunteer opportunities so that I can “forget about myself” and help another human being.
It’s a tall order but someday, someday this world will be a different place and there won’t be any barriers anymore. People will genuinely care. Competition will be a thing of the past. It’s possible! But a tall order for the world is so big with 6 billion people. Wow.
Dear Stephen -
Your article was the one which inspired me here. It was a mind wake up to all who read your interview with Michael.
I think the one thing that holds us back is lack of time.
The main point here is rather than doing nothing because of this time thing is that we do not wait – we do SOMETHING.
All these small things add up. They count toward the whole.
And small is not a “tall order.”
I know we can count you in to this total!
Thanks for that great interview.
I agree that taking small steps like those you’ve outlined is not a tall order. I still dream of the day that every single person on the planet and I mean EVERY SINGLE PERSON extends an act of kindness every day.
I don’t know if you believe in other civilizations out there but I do and I think there are those that are highly evolved planets where many of the problems we have in this world are simply not present there.
As you point out, to exert effort matters. People underestimate how each choice they make is part of the process of transforming the world. Individuals will belittle themselves thinking they are themselves insignificant. And yet, as we each evolve, we begin to understand that every energy vibration we send out is creating a tsunaami the likes of which we have never imagined. It is growing and changing us, even now. We do not need to see it to sense its effects.
For the life of me, I cannot ever understand why people have such a hard time being kind. And don’t tell me that they have had “rough lives” – I am up-to-here with one. We have a victim-entitlement society now.
My favorite words in the English language are “kind” and “gentle” … let’s start there and thanks for a lovely article about our president.
Hi Corrine,
You have just listed ways which can make difference for people today.
The first thing I should do now it to twitter this post to my twitter friends so that I can pay it forward.
Thank you.
Dear Raymond -
Well, that would be a great act of kindness to ME!
And, who knows? It could inspire someone else.
I always appreciate your support. You are a real pal!
Alex writes by email:
Thanks for the wonderful blog. It was great.
I too was very inspired by our new President. He really is an extraordinary man.
My wife, Dawn, told me about the day of service that Monday so I walked my 250 lb snow blower over to the Masonic Lodge and cleared their sidewalks.
They can’t afford a service and there was a ton of snow after that big one we got.
I kept picturing all of those old men trying to get into the building and thought I would help.
I already mow the lawn during the Summer.
President Obama really inspires me.
Good for you, Alex!
Many of my loyal commentators already know about you from some of the articles I have written about you and your work with the Cub Scouts in your small town.
You have a huge and loving heart!
Dear Lily Rose -
These are strong words -
“We have a victim-entitlement society now.”
I do agree that many people feel they have been left behind. And they have.
But that has not prevented them from helping each other.
Case in point:
When I did a volunteer self esteem program for prostitutes in conjunction with the courts of Chicago -
Certainly, a sad group on the fringes of society and surely caught in their own victimization of themselves -
I could not get over how they helped each other – with advice on social programs and even carfare for those who did not have it.
Dear Liara -
Oh, how true is this statement!
“People underestimate how each choice they make is part of the process of transforming the world.”
I am pleased that you took the time to respond to my article. It means a lot to me.
People do not know that you are writing from Australia.
That gives me so much hope that this is a world effort which is expanding everywhere.
Thank you for your inspiration from down under!
This is a great post and I agree that it needs to be paid forward. I felt something similar to this at the time of the inauguration, but it dealt with the economy. I felt that the responsibility was given to each and every one of us to do our part to improve it.
This post makes me wonder…
Perhaps all the things that we are having troubles with in this country: a lack of kindness, economy, etc., should not be a matter of blaming one party or another, one candidate or another. But perhaps we should look inside and figure out how to do our part with everything!
Thanks for the enlightened observation
.
Sincerely,
Bryan
You hit the nail on the head – just ONE MORE act of kindness a day – I work hard to do just that – THANK YOU for the encouragement!