“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” Barbara De Angelis.

In last week’s blog, I mentioned random acts of kindness day. This day is an important way to highlight the positive influence a kind act can have. However, I believe that kindness is something we should look to express throughout the year and not just once-a-year.

The subject of kindness reminded me of a lovely piece of writing by the author Nikki Banas. She has written a couple of books. Her first book, ‘Shine from Within’ is a collection of poetry in the form of letters that touch your heart and inspire hope. The follow up book, ‘Along the Way’ is a collection of letters to inspire light throughout every journey.

I have included something that she wrote below. It’s a reminder of how important it is for us to come from a place of kindness and understanding in our interactions with others. It’s a short and simple piece but has a very powerful message.

Don’t wait to be kind By Nikki Banas.

You never really know the true impact you have on those around you.

You never know how much someone needed that smile that you gave them.

You never know how much your kindness turned someone’s entire life around.

You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk.

So don’t wait to be kind.

Don’t wait for someone else to be kind first.

Don’t wait for better circumstances or for someone to change.

Just be kind, because you never know how much someone needs it.

You will be familiar with the phrase, “it’s better to give than receive”. This is backed up by much research, which suggests that there are many benefits to us being kind. It makes us healthier, happier and can improve our results. It gives us a greater sense of wellbeing, makes us more emotionally resilient and reduces our stress levels.

People have many different motivations for performing acts of kindness. These can range from the desire to give something back, to make a difference or to feel more purposeful. It can be as simple as wanting to feel good. I always think it feels great to brighten someone’s day and to give them a reason to smile.

It’s my belief that no act of kindness, however small, is ever a waste of energy. They can take many forms and range from planned activity such as volunteering our time to a worthy cause to more spontaneous acts. It doesn’t have to involve money.

I believe that we can all help the world to be a better place by committing to making kindness a part of our everyday lives. There are many simple ways we can all perform small acts of kindness and it’s never too late to start.

Today could be the perfect day to begin a routine of kindness.

This week, why not take a few moments to pause and reflect. Consider what you can do to bring more kindness to the world every day.

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