The other day my friend Andrea (who I have never met in person) posted the following on Facebook:
Never let the outside world suppress your passion for kindness and altruism. It may be looked at as unorthodox at times, but I promise you that you are not alone. Kindness and love can change the world… we just need to believe that we can make it happen. (John Bryant)
I don’t do new year resolutions – I feel that if a resolution is worth making, you should do it at the time that you think of it… like giving presents. But, having said that, I do think that my focus in 2015 is going to be on kindness and altruism.By choosing to make a stand and to be kind, we can start to separate ourselves from all the confusing stories we are presented with by politicians and the media* and focus on something that is actually achievable, positive and has an impact on our ourselves and others.
If we make connections with other people around the world in a spirit of kindness, we will surely be encouraged to treat our fellow human beings with respect and to respect the environment in which they live. Kindness is not just about charitable donations or helping a friend, it’s about having a caring attitude to everyone. I am especially keen to extend my sphere of kindness to those who I never meet, but who are indirectly affected my choices – the people who make my clothes, grow my food, support my lifestyle.
Some direct kindness is also good for the soul and so later this week I will be dispatching two packages – one to Tasmania and one to the US – to two lovely and inspiring people that I have never met but with whom I wish to share some of my creative bounty. All this is thanks to the kindness of Pauline, The Contented Crafter, and you can read the details here. I want the contents of the packages to be a surprise for the recipients, so no photographs yet… you’ll just have to make do with one of Max testing out some of my packaging material:
This box feels comfy
Kindness is something we can all increase in our lives and, in all cases, it will make the world a better place. So, will you join me in trying to be a little kinder?
-oOo-
* Thanks to John B. for another post on FB that made me think about this
The Snail of Happiness 
Karen B
/ January 5, 2015Yes, yes, yes! Being kind and helpful, especially to those we meet as we go about our daily errands helps to spread so much joy around. Some people are challenged by it though and can not seem to accept it. Wonderful things can come from kindness, on both sides.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 5, 2015It’s true… being kind is a positive action all round.
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narf77
/ January 5, 2015Kindness benefits everyone involved. When we move outside our comfort zone and walk towards kindness to strangers, we are taking a leap of faith that someone, somewhere will also be kind to us when we need it the most. I am most honoured to be “that Tasmanian” Ms Snail. Your kindness, whatever it may be, will be truly appreciated here because generosity and kindness are our creed. The more we give to other people, to the world, the more room there is to receive. Hopefully that doesn’t sound mercenary! What I mean is that if we give freely, that gift comes back to reward the giver in kind. It might be the joy at making someone delighted with what you have given. It might be simple pleasure in new connections. It might be that the simple act of giving unfolds something deep inside you that makes you happier. For whatever reason, kindness and generosity are good for “us” as well as those that we give to. I thank you most earnestly for your generosity and kindness Ms Snail and you can be assured that if you send me anything in packaging that Max has slept on, my 2 boys will be MOST happy to receive the gift of said packaging ;).
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thecontentedcrafter
/ January 5, 2015How fabulous – and I’m so glad you didn’t spoil the surprise 🙂 Thanks for the pingback too – that was very kind 🙂
Your facebook friend’s post is so true – there is more kindness in the world than people realise – it just doesn’t get air time in the scaremongering focus of the modern media.
In my opinion – and you should know by now, I have many of ’em – It is actually easier to be nice than awful – it’s all in paying attention to how we feel when doing either. I don’t like feeling how I feel when I’m angry, resentful or rude so I chose a long while ago to practise being happy and feeling good – it has such a lovely knock-on effect and just keeps on making me happier …….. Win/win situation don’t you agree?
I can’t wait to hear what the recipients feel about your gifts! xoxo
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margaret21
/ January 5, 2015Yes indeed. A great aim. Towards the end of last year, a blogger whose posts I enjoy, and who seems to enjoy mine, Sharon of http://thenelsonhousediaries.blogspot.co.uk/ sent me a book, quite out of the blue, because she rightly suspected I’d enjoy it. Such a joyful thing to have done, because so unexpected. I count her a friend, though we still haven’t managed to meet.
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Andrea
/ January 5, 2015The original quote comes from John Bryant who runs a Facebook page called the Ripple Effect, which is really quite apt as this quote has caused so many lovely ripples for me since I shared it.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 5, 2015In that case, I shall edit the post and credit his sage words.
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davidprosser
/ January 5, 2015I’m all in favour of making the world a better place to live one hug at a time.We should delight in the differences between us, not fear them. Tolerance should be the word of the decade.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 5, 2015Lovely sentiment, David
xxx hugs xxx
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margaret21
/ January 5, 2015There are several FB pages called things related to the Ripple Effect, Andrea. Any further clues?
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Andrea
/ January 5, 2015https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ripple-Effect/1553454061533394?fref=ts
It’s a fairly young community yet, and I’m sure John would appreciate your support.
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katechiconi
/ January 5, 2015I’m a great fan of two sorts of kindness: Random Acts, and Paying it Forward. If enough people did enough of those two, what a very different place the world would be… And kindness to those who are not our immediate family or friends is more meaningful; everyone can be kind to those they love, but strangers are harder!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 5, 2015All true… I seem to have made lots of new friends through kindness!
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katechiconi
/ January 5, 2015Me too!
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Ann Owen
/ January 5, 2015Couldn’t agree more, both with the post and everybody’s comments here. In a way, we create our own realities and each time I’m a bit cheesed off with mine, (eventually) I remember that if I want more gratitude and kindness, I better get on with it! What goes round…and all that. BTW, let me just thank all of you on here, I often read your comments as well as Jans posts and enjoy both. Love all round. X
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gentlestitches
/ January 6, 2015really good post and I kind of needed to read it today. I am hard wired to be kind but sometimes the media almost succeeds in eroding it by its irresponsible fear mongering.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 6, 2015I have pretty much given up watching/listening to the news because it makes me feel so depressed and helpless. To me, the answer is individual small actions… let’s keep them coming!
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gentlestitches
/ January 7, 2015❤
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teddyandtottie
/ January 6, 2015Kindness is the only way. Several times in shops before Christmas I caught the tail end of customers being rude to young staff. I always made a point afterwards of standing talking to the young people serving me about their plans for Christmas and told them never to take anything mean said to them to heart. I don’t understand why some people go out of their way to be mean to people in shops or to people serving them food. A smile and some friendly chat costs nothing. Kindness rules. What a great post.
Also, you’ve made my day commenting on my blog about my bunting making you smile every day. I’m thrilled. xoxoxoxo
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Oh Apricity
/ January 7, 2015Agree 100%. My Mum’s mantra is: be kind and loving.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 7, 2015What a wise mum!
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insearchofitall
/ January 7, 2015Great subject to focus on in the new year but I have the feeling that Kindness comes natural to you. I find that being on the other end of a kindness needs the same attention. I just wrote a letter to a discount chain to commend the kind actions and attitude of their young staff in locating and retrieving my cane left on the shopping cart. I parked too close to the cart return to realize I didn’t have it. I fully expected it to be gone. People always say the younger generation is all bad. I beg to differ.
Kindness has always been the highest of values in my life. The fact that my adult children are kind and have huge hearts makes them grand successes in life as far as I’m concerned. I asked nothing else from them and have been amply rewarded. Everything flows from that. Hope this year is kind to you.
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Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault
/ January 8, 2015That would be the same Andrea (who I too have never met) who sent me chocolate when I was having a really bad time. Chocolate always helps. Chocolate that arrives suddenly in your letter box from a person you have never met REALLY helps 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 8, 2015Wow – what a lovely example of kindness.
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cambridgearomatherapy
/ January 8, 2015Kindness is so so important.
And on the subject of the mini egg, we have found that they are often produced by hens who are getting near the end of their laying life. Also should be getting some even smaller ones from our Chinese Pekin Bantams soon. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 8, 2015I hope you post some pictures on FB of your bantams… and their eggs!
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