Try A Little Kindness

By Kirsten Okenwa

You got to try a little kindness Yes show a little kindness Just shine your light for everyone to see and if you try a little kindness Then you’ll overlook the blindness of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.

Some of us remember this old hit song by American coun­try music singer, Glen Campbell. The lyrics ring true today in our Covid-19 world where some are isolating, more are staying safe while some are being less empa­thetic (we no longer say, ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes around us!). We ought to dai­ly inspire ourselves on practic­ing kind acts for people in our world. An HR consultant, Den­ise Corcoran once said, “In the darkest moments of my life, a wise mentor told me that the greatest antidote to fear, anxie­ty or frustration was to go help someone else. After a rough year on a personal level, I found this sage advice to be a game-chang­er.”

Imagine waking up most mornings wondering, What sim­ple act of kindness can I do to­day? Whose life can I help? How can I be kind to myself?

In a digitally driven world, it’s easy to forget that we all need connection as human beings to thrive in this world. All the texts, Facebook likes or tweets will nev­er substitute for one real human moment where, even if only for seconds, we matter in someone else’s eyes. It doesn’t take a lot to be kind, yet the effect it can have on another can be far-reaching.

Here are some simple ways to brighten someone’s day – and your own.

•Send a bottle of wine, a box of teabags, or a bottle of fruit smoothie to a friend in need of some loving care, with a note inviting him or her to take some relaxing time out. Your kind action is now causing another good action – your friend can now be kind to him or herself.

•Tell a parent they’re doing a good job. (They probably rarely hear that!) You are almost guar­anteed to be rewarded with a shy but bright smile in return. Sometimes the simplest things mean the most.

•Whenever you see someone taking a family photo, offer to snap the shot so every one can be included in the moment. You never know – that photo could become a treasured me­mento. And people almost al­ways offer to return the favour!

•Be kind to the earth! Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, recycle, use energy-effi­cient light bulbs, use a refillable water bottle, and bring cloth bags to the supermarket. We only have one planet, we need to keep it clean and protected.

•Take the time to learn the name of someone who regular­ly helps you out – whether it’s a security guard, a cleaner, or a cashier at the supermarket. Greet them by name. This seemingly small gesture will demonstrate how greatly you value your local service people and your interac­tions with them.

•Do you want an easy way to pay it forward? When you have finished reading a newspaper or magazine in a taxi, or restaurant, leave it in the seat pocket or ta­ble, so the next person can read it for free. What an easy way to put a smile on someone’s face and cure commuter boredom with free entertainment! Better still, it won’t be cluttering up your own home.

•Collect old clothes and make parcels to distribute to the needy.

•Help an elderly neighbour do some household chores or er­rands.

•Read a story at a children’s ward in a hospital.

Donate gifts to children in or­phanages.

•Donate the excess food in your pantry.

•Donate used books to schools and libraries.

•Write positive affirmations and quotes on paper and hand them out to colleagues or strangers.

•Share some online love by giv­ing a review to a random busi­ness or author.

•Dedicate a few hours to only saying something kind or en­couraging to family members or colleagues.

•Spend time with a lonely fam­ily member.

•Offer to tutor a struggling student.

•Join a mentoring program for troubled children.

•Make contact with a friend, just to say Hi

•Hand your family members each a list of things you love about them.

•Instead of birthday gifts, request donations to a chosen charity.

•Spread positivity – for a whole day, refrain from saying anything negative.WW

•Listen to stories the elderly have to tell. Even if you’ve lis­tened to them before.

•Help someone declutter their home.

Practice patience by refraining from road rage.

•Help someone find a job.

•Cook a meal for a family with a new baby.

•Have a “social media detox” day — focus on genuine rela­tionships with people around you.