: a personal initiative to give, inspire and experience kindness in its purest form,
: a platform that I use to express myself artistically and emotionally,
: an avenue to keep myself thinking creatively,
: a way to share some of my thoughts with whoever ventures my way.
"No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent."
~William Ellery Channing~
We are a social species, and we have a tendency to allow our self-images to be rooted in the opinions or (mis)conceptions of others.
It is far too easy to become trapped by labels and "definitions" that others place on you.
While it is nice to be aware of your affect on those you love, and it is important to be mindful of how you might make others feel, it is also important to try hard not to base your self-worth and dignity on external opinions.
To be a good person, to be honest and kind to yourself and others, and to make choices that will lead you with happiness; these are the measures by which I have learned to base my moral and personal pride.
I have started to narrow down what makes me most happy: To be kind--- all around KIND.
While this may seem to contradict my above statements (on not defining yourself by others standards), it is (also) is a decision I made for myself. Because being kind to other people is what makes ME feel good. Also, it is something that my family, in particular my mother, taught me, and I find it to an invaluable characteristic to pass down from generation to generation.
I have two sons who motivate me daily, and are a huge source of inspiration to be kind and treat people nicely. I hope they learn from me what I have learned from me my Mom.
I hope to make this more of my focus on this platform, my blog. I hope to chronicle the special ways in which I display random acts of kindness.
This was inspired by quite a few people, but most recently, I have rediscovered a global campaign that I find to be absolutely beautiful. It's called Guerilla Goodness, and if you follow that link, you can read all about it. I hope you take the time to do so, and I hope it finds a place into your heart as it has with mine over the last 3 years, and mainly within the last few weeks.
Opportunities to help frequently come in such ordinarypackages that it's easy to let these precious moments slip through our capable fingers:
How manytimes hassomeone tried to hand youa flier on your way into a grocery store? How do you respond? Do you takeit and read it, or perhaps transfer it to the nearest trash bin? Do you simply give an unreceptive “no thanks,”using your hand as a fleshy barrier between you and what you assume to be anunsolicited marketing ploy? But what if itweren’t just a pushy attempt to get you to fill out another Sam’s Clubapplication form? What if it were, forexample, a list of basic food items that families across your community urgentlyneed but cannot afford? Would thatchange your knee-jerk reaction?
This past weekend,Northern Virginia community members had a chance to do something for a cause byparticipating in “Stuff the Bus”- a Fairfax County initiative to collectdonations for the most vulnerable citizens in the area: those living in poverty.
Food for Others, a local nonprofit, maintains that while NorthernVirginia is regarded as one of the nation’s most prosperous areas, the regionhas a poverty rate of about 5%. While that number may sound inconsequential,this equates to 90,000 poverty-stricken people living in NorthernVirginia. What’s more, an astonishing 30%of that number is made up of children. This brings us to a tragic reality: Over 25,000 helpless kids are livingin socioeconomic distress in this exceptionally wealthy jurisdiction. Still sound inconsequential?
The “Stuff the Bus” event was held at a Giant Food Store inthe distant and incredible land of McLean, Virginia, where massive castles linegolden streets, where dogs the size of rats wear crowned jewels and velvet robes,and where 6-year-old children have iPhone’s surgically implanted into theirhands. iPhone’s are just a modern day riteof passage.
The Giant parking lot was ironically tiny, and had troubleholding the hoards of luxury cars, all competing for a front-row spot. The sky was misting, that barely-there rainthat will totally negate any hair product you attempted to use before leavingthe house, and the ladies had to be extra mindful not to have their perfect tressesmessed with. Now are we clear whythese front row spots were in such high demand?
A gaggle of geeky tweens were manning the front doors withunimpressive authority, timidly trying to hand out pieces of neon pink paper. The poor kids were so unsure of themselvesthat they couldn’t even stutter “hi ma’am” without either drooling all overthemselves or breaking out into nervous hives.
The neon paper that was so readily being dismissed was aninventory of essential items that were needed to replenish the community’s foodpantries. It was a roster full of simpleitems that are usually taken for granted. Things like ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise: staples for hamburgerlovers, who will gratuitously and instinctively drench their quarter-pounders inas much sauce as they can. But askcountless families across Northern Virginia, and these commonplace condimentsare considered a scarce indulgence.
The store was packed like a family station wagon, readyingfor retreat. It was filled to the brim withpeople, yet no one was talking to each other! Most people shuffled from aisle to aisle without so much as a glance atanother human being. Is the Zombie Apocalypse upon us already!?
Most people didn’t have a CLUE what the pink papers were,and might not have cared anyway. Like“long multicolored fur coat lady,” who was obviously aging and in denial, withdyed blonde hair that more closely resembled straw than locks. She and her rigid husband were stifflypushing an over-flowing cart, full of frivolity: Ten pairs of shoelaces, themost expensive coffee in the store, and most importantly, refrigerated dogfood. God forbid Fifi goeswithout her gourmet meals!
Giant provides 6 types of carts for shoppers to conveniently choose from:
*There was a tiny green cart for 3-year-oldchildren whose parents allow them to do their own shopping. Forget teaching them manners andkindness; just teach them how to grocery shop!
*There was a smaller cart made for an adult whoonly needs a few things. The handheld baskets are too laborious.
*There was a basket on wheels that shoppers couldtow behind them. Very wagon-like.
*There was a normal sized cart… complete with a cup holder, in which sat a Venti Starbucks drink forevery 2 out of 3 people.
*There was even a cool gadget (a portable scanner) at the front door thatallowed you to completely control your shopping experience by price-checkingall of the items. Price tags don't exist anymore?
Do I need to continue?
It was painfully clear that the masses, on the whole, were completely consumed inself-indulgent, self-fulfilling behaviors, and they seemed to be completely outof touch with one another.
Ironic, don’t ya think, given the context of thecircumstance. All of this glamor, allof this glitz, all of this MONEY, yet outside stood a group of young volunteers, some ofwhom might struggle with poverty, but who had little way of reaching the peoplewho have the means to support their noble cause, and sadly have absolutely nowillingness to acknowledge it. Ignorance is bliss.
On a brighter note, there was about a third of the shoppers had that pink paper in theirhands, and were intently focused onfulfilling the rations spelled out for them. These special few were the only people smiling and making eye contactwith one another. They, collectively, werea compassionate and considerate breath of fresh air.
Best part of the event: Overhearing a mother asked her [about] 4-year-old son,“Do you know why we are here?”
To whichhe replied, “To help people and do the right thing.”
And THAT is where change starts.
"Sometimes a man imagines that he will lose himself if he gives himself, and keep himself if he hides himself. But the contrary takes place with terrible exactitude." -Ernest Hello
I have been rummaging for inspiration lately, where ever I can find it. I listen for it in friends' voices, I look for it in others' eyes, I seek it out, I crave it. It's not a rarity, but rather just something I cannot get enough of. It's the unquenchable thirst for understanding, for stimulation, for insight.
As part of my quest, I always look for new quotes. It's something I have been doing since I was a little girl- finding truth in others' brilliance. Extracting epiphanies from ordinary statements.
These are just some of the quotes I have been stuck on lately, trying hard to grab the words, and run with them. After all "words are just words unless you live them."
'living is a form of not being sure,
not knowing what next or how...
we guess. we may be wrong,
but we take leap after leap in the dark.'
~ agnes de mille~
'as human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery... we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. the greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.'
~ the dalai lama~
'there is no way to peace
peace is the way.'
~ a.j. muste~
'what we seek we shall find;
what we flee from flees from us.'
~ralph waldo emerson~
'at times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.'
~albert schweitzer~
'i will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet.'
~gandhi~
'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.'
