What if we all were to choose to spend this holiday season living from the heart?  What if we lived today or this moment with compassion?  What if today we chose love instead of judgment?  Instead of buying into the recent negativity in the social media, what if we decided to only spread kindness?  Think of the impact, if this kindness were to continue to grow…what an epidemic that would be!

This Thanksgiving, I decided to start reading the book Random Acts of Kindness by The Editors of Conari Press, Daphne Rose Kingma, Dawna Markova.  This book states, “Kindness is twice blessed.  It blesses the one who gives it with a sense of his or her own capacity to love, and the person who receives it with a sense of the beneficence of the universe.” 

Using kindness can create miracles and heal.  It works like an anti-depressant for those in pain.  It counterbalances the negative around us.  It sends a shining light of peace, hope, and love.  Isn’t that what the holidays are supposed to be about?

This year, during all of the holiday busyness, find time to do some random acts of kindness.  Let someone cut in front of you in those long lines, who looks like they could use a break.  Show some kindness to that cashier.  Help someone who is struggling with their packages.  Hold a door open.  Smile and say hello.  Carry spare change and drop it in those boxes by the cash register.  Donate your old items to charity.  Buy things on ebay or Amazon Smile and make a donation to charity while you shop.  Remember that Tuesday is Giving Tuesday!  When you send those Christmas Cards, put in a personal note and tell your recipients that they are special to you.  One of the easiest things you can do is just to “listen deeply” to someone. 

“My religion is very simple.  My religion is kindness.”   The Dalai Lama

Keep your light shining and pass it on!!

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

We do not gain our strength from the things we already know how to do.  We learn from the new challenges we face; when we accomplish things we didn’t think were possible.  Sometimes we need to step out of the box and give it a try.

When you are faced with a new challenge, there is often fear and doubt.  Sometimes we just need to look fear in the face and take a step forward.  Isn’t this the way we learn, grow, and change?

Sometimes it helps to take the hand of someone else and walk together.  Other times, we have to take those first steps alone.  Oh, but the feeling you feel, when you make it to the top of that mountain!!

“Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way.”  —Theodor Seuss Geisel