My day begins early – I mean really early. I am up at 3:30 am, out of the house by 4:30 am, and at work by 5:30 am. After working a full day (and it’s not hard labor – just a lot of research and writing) I’m back home by 4:00 pm and everything that entails. Cooking dinner, doing the dishes, laundry, and a dozen other things that need to get done to keep the family running. So when little unexpected surprises come my way my day so much brighter.
I’m not talking about winning the lottery kind of surprises, just the little everyday small acts of thoughtfulness and kindness that mean so much. Maybe it’s seeing a rainbow on your drive home that brings a smile or hearing your favorite song on the radio. Yesterday it was two simple acts of caring that made my whole day brighter. First, I came home to find that my son had unloaded the dishwasher – Joy! It’s no big thing but the fact that he noticed it needed to be done and did it was just such a wonderful surprise and shows me he cares. Next I go upstairs to change and see that my husband has folded my laundry for me. Again – no big deal but the fact he took the time to do this small act of kindness for me made my day.
It’s not the grand gestures that mean the most to me – it’s the little everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that make me happy. Whether it’s a friendly “hello, how are you today” from a stranger or my family helping in unexpected ways, these little gestures go a long way.
One way I like to sprinkle kindness around is with a pretty handmade card. Sometimes I will write a note and send a card to someone unexpectedly or I will give one of my cards to someone who has been helpful and kind. I’ve given them to bank tellers, receptionists at the doctor’s office, the cashier at the food store. Each and every time I have give out a card the recipient is always so surprised and grateful. What a great way to sprinkle some kindness around.
So what do you do to spread kindness around and show others you care? It doesn’t have to be a big, grand gesture. It’s the small, thoughtful acts that mean the most. So today I challenge you to show kindness in some little way. Remember, it ain’t no big thing to show others you care.
