“Don’t judge each day
by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds
that you plant.” 
Robert Louis Stevenson

I invite and encourage you to pause… and take a few minutes to reflect on the people in your life who have been kind to you. Sadly, it seems so much easier for us to remember and dwell upon those who have hurt us, so taking a little time to think about those who have shown us kindness at some point in our lives can be a beneficial exercise.

Consider your parents, siblings, extended family members, teachers, coaches, teammates, mentors, neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Think about people you may not have known, but who you remember because of some act of kindness they did for you. Then, in your own way, be grateful for these individuals and for the kindness they provided.

• • •

Tomorrow, November 13th, is World Kindness Day. I don’t know who makes these things up, but I appreciate the various opportunities to heighten our awareness of the positive aspects of life. In reality, every day should be a “kindness day,” and, I believe, for most of us, it is. Despite the evil we hear about in the world around us each day, there is no shortage of kindness in our lives. Yet a day set aside to consciously focus on the gift of kindness seems appropriate.

I believe, and I hope those who know me have recognized, that I have gotten kinder with age. Maybe that’s a natural thing. I am less judgmental today than I was in years past. I don’t let the behavior of others disturb my inner peace as often as it used to. I am much more patient, and therefore more kind, while driving my car or waiting in the checkout line at a grocery store. All of these changes have improved my life, and, hopefully, the lives of those around me.

Performing random acts of kindness has become a movement in our society today. It’s not uncommon for someone to pay for the coffee of the person behind them in the drive-thru line at Starbucks. Many small businesses now include acts of kindness as part of their marketing plan. Many school groups and business organizations now see the value of including some form of volunteer service to their community — acts of kindness to others — as an integral part of who they are and what they do.

While an annual celebration of World Kindness Day is a commendable idea, we know that being kind to others is not just a once-a-year event. We are called, challenged, and urged to be kind, to others and to ourselves, every day. Actor Morgan Freeman was once asked, “How do we change the world?” His response was simple and direct. He said, “One random act of kindness at a time.”

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” 
~ Dr. Leo Buscaglia