I have recently been reading a lot about the benefits of kindness.  I have noticed that a lot of what we do (or don’t do) for others comes down to this one simple concept. I have noticed, with gratitude, the many kind acts that I see others doing from one day to the next.  And I have noticed that those who do kind things for others often seem happier than those who don’t.  Did you know that studies have shown that the practice of kindness benefits the health and well-being of the giver just as much as the receiver? 

The thing I love about kindness is the ripple effect.  When you do something kind for someone, often they, in turn, do something kind for someone else…and so it goes, one tiny ripple leads to the next and then the next.  Who knows how this ripple of kindness will spread or the difference one act can make?

I have also put a lot of thought into this because sometimes, the act of doing good things for people makes a person feel vulnerable… it opens one up to the possibility of rejection and this can feed a person’s insecurities and fears. We are hard-wired to protect ourselves emotionally, and sometimes this means we don’t take risks, especially when we think we may be rejected or criticized. But over time, I have realized that the practice of kindness is actually a demonstration of strength, not weakness.  For it takes a strong person to be able to risk rejection and face the consequences regardless of the outcome.  And I have found that, although it feels like you are taking a chance on people, kindness rarely results in rejection.  And when it does, it really says something about the other person, not about you.  So I challenge you … do something kind for someone today for no other reason than because of who you are…

Ripples of Kindness
By Krista Longeway

One pebble
Dropped from my palm
Warmed by sunshine’s happy glow
Falls to join the rocks below

One ripple
Disturbs the calm
Tiny waves that interlace
Spread across the water’s face

One kindness
A soothing balm
Each small act can quickly grow
Spreading further than we know