Small Acts Of Kindness
I think we must learn to trust the small acts of kindness we are given. Too often we tend to underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring.
Aesop said, "No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."
In my last article about synchronicity, I encouraged gratefulness, "Try to be grateful for even the smallest gifts: a sunny morning, a long line that moves quickly, a beautiful sunset, an article on sale just when you realize you need it, a special song on the radio that brings back great memories, etc... These are only a few small gifts in our daily lives we can be grateful for."
I wanted to build on that idea. I think that not only do we have to be grateful for the smallest gifts that tend to occur in our lives, we also need to be appreciative for how they seems to happen. Have you ever thought that there might be other people working extremely hard in the background? Have you realized that you alone may not be the only cause of your own success?
I have realized that I am not the only reason for my success. There are many behind the scenes that want success for me as much as I do. I, along with many others, have been blessed to have people that are dedicated to help me achieve a mission. In order to be a professional speaker, there are so many people that do countless acts of kindness for me, so that I am able to give struggling individuals the hope to keep moving forward. I stress that nothing is ever as bad as it seems. There is always possibility.
I have always believed that anything is possible. When I travel to a speaking event, I tend to get overwhelmed by everything, are the slides and video on my computer going to work? Am I going to forget what I want to say? Is everyone going to be inspired by my journey?
As I finally stand up in front of my audience, I am reminded that there are many people that are willing to do seemingly small things, but to me these small acts of helpfulness are huge. In fact, without many people helping me I would not be there at all.
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Sir Winston Churchill
I try to make my own contribution every day - whether it is taking the time to unravel a problem with a friend on the phone, or simply bringing laughter into someone's dreary day - I feel these are some small acts that can make a difference in someone's life. We all need to make time for small acts of kindness.
"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind." - Henry James
My partner, Bruce, is inspired by my words each time he comes to see me speak. I am so grateful for his continued helpfulness to my cause. What always amazes me is that he is just as happy waiting in the background, sitting with me, or providing a helpful hand.
