A Season of Kindness

Posted on by Miriam

Sometimes kindness disguises itself in subtle forms.  Like patience, compromise, compassion or just a listening caring ear.  It can be a simple hug or a shoulder massage mixed in with words of comfort.  All of these things were part of my world this week.

20160601_071728.jpg

This was the first sunrise of June in Melbourne, the first day of Winter.  I stepped out on our balcony and it was like the colored sky was brimming with new hope.

The cold mornings have made me realise how much I have to be grateful for … a warm home, food and running water and a roof over our head.  And our kind words which can impact others and make (or break) their day.

kindness in season

I tried to stay mindful this week of being kinder to others around me, of seeking out opportunities to reach out and make a difference, however small.

scatter seeds

I spoke to a girl working at the supermarket check-out, engaging her in conversation, hearing about her upcoming exams, wishing her well.

I handed an older woman my empty basket another day, when she was clearly struggling with a lot of heavy items in her arms.

In the supermarket carpark this week I found $40 cash behind a car.  Assuming it belonged to the woman who’d just got in the car I knocked on her window and asked if it was hers.  I’m still not sure whether it was or not but I wouldn’t have felt right taking it.

I connected on a deeper level with a blogger friend who’s going through tough times.

I visited mum.  Each time it breaks my heart but I try and reach her soul even though she can’t speak or respond.  A hug and gentle touches, smiles, caring words … I hope that on some level she understands and knows I’m there for her.

20160601_115041.jpg

I saw this sign down the street this week.  It’s so true.  Kind words have the ability to warm our hearts and turn an icy season into a warm place of refuge.

But I’ll be honest, although I like to think I’m a naturally kind person, there are days when I’m cranky and moody, when I’m less than tolerant, when the curtness and eye rolling of my teenagers gets to me and I lose my cool.   This challenge is forcing me to take a step back, to listen more, really listen and react less.

A little less hurry

So that’s what I’m trying to do.  Taking the time to focus on what really matters.  And hopefully, in doing that life will be better, not just for me but for everyone around me.

ripples

Have a great week, be mindful, be kind and remember, even the smallest act of kindness can have a huge impact.  I’m learning that every day.

I wish you all peace, happiness and love as we continue the journey.

This is in response to Niki’s Kindness Challenge Week 4

106 thoughts on “A Season of Kindness”

  1. I think you are doing really well Miriam. I enjoy reading your posts on this journey. You are thoughtful, insightful and kind – just remember to be kind to yourself too 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

  4. Miriam, beautiful thoughts, though most of us are inherently kind there are days and moods where we are turn unkind involuntarily.. thank you for the headsup! Will consciously try this week and tell you next week .. xo

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  5. What a beautiful photo Miriam! Lovely winter sunrise 🙂 I love the quote about a little more kindness and a little less hurry. How funny is that, that you came across that sign with the Japanese proverb? 🙂 Great examples of kindness this week! I agree with a previous commenter about your mom, I’m sure that she knows you’re there even though she can’t express it. I recently read this article about the power of the heart and how it’s so much more complex than people think. It’s really incredible. One of the things mentioned was the power of touch and the effect it has on the body. Another thing I found interesting was they mentioned the heart’s electromagnetic field is greater than that of the brain…the more I refresh myself reading it now, the more I think you should read it. There’s some great information there! Even though she may not be responding in the way one would expect, I don’t doubt there’s a connection from the heart that just isn’t visible the way responding with the brain is. I hope you have a beautiful first winter weekend 🙂

    https://www.heartmath.org/articles-of-the-heart/science-of-the-heart/the-energetic-heart-is-unfolding/

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Niki, not just for your beautiful kind words, but for sending me that link. I just finished reading it and it was fascinating. I do believe that the heart energy radiates through and that somehow in there mum is with me and understands. Sometimes I see ever so subtle signs and it gives me hope that I’ve reached her. Thanks again my friend. Have a wonderful week ahead. xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. You’re welcome, I read it a while back and it just came to mind when I was writing my comment. I had to do some digging to find it but I just had to send it to you 🙂 So glad you found it interesting. Hope you have a great week as well! ❤

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

  10. Kindness is everywhere, all round us. All we have to do is to take just one little step to not only put a smile on the faces of strangers but to lighten up our own soul.
    Thank Miriam for sharing your experience with us 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  11. I connect with this post most especially the eye rolling offsprings 🙂 We do our best but there are days…I’m so sorry about your mother. It can’t be easy seeing her in that condition, but she knows that you love her. Lovely post.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  12. You are so right…practicing kindness isn’t always easy, and there are times when it’s definitely a struggle. But it is so important. I’m beginning to think that kindness is very under-rated in today’s world, and yet it’s also what is needed most! Thank you for so consistently encouraging kindness through your blog. (And that sunrise is just gogeous!)

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  13. Your sunrise picture is just beautiful. I need to come into some serious money because every time I see your pictures I want to come visit! (But not just the places in your pictures, of course… also you!) Oh, that’s such a long way from here… (the distance and the money!)

    I hope you have a wonderful day… But it’s not really daytime there anymore, is it? 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. It is now! It’s Monday morning and a new week’s just begun. Aaagh, where does the time go?
      I hope you do come into some serious money Sandra, I’ll come and pick you up at the airport and we’ll have a ball! Wouldn’t that be awesome 🙂
      Have a good week.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. I have no idea why I never saw the notification for this response! You probably thought I was ignoring you! Oh yes, we would have a great time! (Speaking of time… it’s after 2:30am and I’m still awake… what is wrong with me??) 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. I know you’d never deliberately ignore me! 🙂 Now woman, what are you still doing up? Shut off that very addictive screen, we’ll talk in the morning …. like after you’ve had some shut eye. 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

  19. Miriam, reading this made me tearful. Whenever I have moments of self-reflection, I remind myself that I want to be a kinder person. There are two women in my life that I use as my “kindness role models.” You belong on my list. Thank you for openness and the reminder that kindness isn’t always natural but requires thought and mindfulness. I resolve to be a kinder person today.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. You’re right, kindness isn’t always natural, it does need for us to be mindful and sometimes I fall short, but I try my best, like we all do. Thanks for your great comment.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  21. This was lovely, Miriam. Your story regarding your mom resonated with me the most. I don’t know your mom’s situation, but my mom had Alzheimer’s. She got to the point that she would stare at me without ever speaking. Going to see her was brutal, but if I didn’t go I felt horrible.
    Then I stumbled upon a book called Dancing With Rose (can’t remember the author). She wrote of working with Alzheimer patients, seeing the family members and what they went through. She said we should stop asking if they remember things, as it’s stressful for them and heartbreaking for you. If you just hold their hand and sit with them, that would be enough.
    Anyway, it totally changed my outlook on the visits and they became far less difficult. I will always feel grateful for coming across that book.
    Wow – I don’t usually write blog-length comments! I told you it resonated with me! 😊
    Wishing you all the best. ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  22. Beautiful post, Miriam! I love your little acts of kindness and your efforts to spread tiny ripples of kindness everywhere you go. I try to live this way, too, but like you, I find myself falling into less-than-kind reactions. I’m SO hard on myself when I catch myself being snappish, judgmental, making ungracious assumptions of others, and offloading my tension on the people around me. I don’t know why I expect that I should be some sort of superhuman when it comes to being gentle and kind (including with myself). Of course I’m not perfect. Reading your blog, you strike me as a very kind, wholehearted, thoughtful person. Thank you for allowing me to embrace my flaws by your brave example.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Oh, I’m not that brave, Lulu, I’m flawed and fall down in so many areas, just like the rest of us. But I guess the main thing is our intentions of kindness and being mindful of others around us (and of ourselves too). That’s what I try and do, sometimes it’s more natural than other times, but I guess we just do the best we can. Have a great week ahead Lulu. xo

      Like

      Reply

  24. Listen more and react less….
    This is something I need a lot of work on. I think I’m better than i used to be, but still not where I’d like to be.

    Whenever you write about your mum I can feel the emotion seeping through my screen. It’s so genuine and it makes me want to reach back through and hug you. ❤ Hugs to you Miriam. ❤

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Oh Nikki, thank you so much, you’re such a good friend. As for listening more and reacting less, I think that’s something that most of us can work on. Take care. xo

      Like

      Reply

  25. Completely love this post, Miriam. I can just see you standing looking at the sky, being grateful for your blessings. YOU are a blessing. Thank you for sharing your seeds of kindness, they definitely touch me with grace. Have a wonderful week! ❤ In Loving and Fun, Debbie

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  26. As I read your words, Miriam I’m impressed once again by how utterly kind you are. Not just because you’re practicing kindness and talking about it, but because your nature is such that you are kind enough to take up a challenge like this and by doing so, make a difference in the world. I also love the photograph. In England we only get skies like that once per month and so for you to have that by just casually walking out onto the balcony in the morning is … Anyways – it’s a lovely shot so thanks for sharing that with us.
    Okay – that’s me for now – take care and have a lovely day/evening/morning – all of that. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hey Robert, you’re so sweet. All I’m doing is sharing my small patch/sky of the world, just as we all are. I really do appreciate your comment though.
      It’s night now, so I guess it’s morning for you. Hope you have a great day. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

        4. Me neither. I withdraw it. Here is an alternative:
          Just call me Saccharine one more time and I’ll dive so deeply into your warm, wet place that you’ll never want me to leave. And then, when you’ve had your fill and you’ve done lying there feeling drowsy and sweet, you’d better rouse yourself and wash your cup out. There’s nothing like a sweet cup of tea – right? 😉

          Liked by 1 person

  28. Oh I love this! All those acts of kindness, you may have no idea just how impactful they were to the other person. I too have been making a conscious effort to be more kind and caring especially towards strangers…like I was having a conversation with the young man bagging my groceries this weekend. But like you and everyone else, I have my days too when I’m overwhelmed with work at work and I may not be the friendliest co-worker sometimes so I’m working on doing better. I’m sorry to hear about you Mum, that must be very difficult, don’t under-estimate what she can comprehend though, I’ve seen many a program where the person is in a coma but knew everything that was going on around them…so believe that you are reaching her. I’ll say a prayer for her tonight! xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  29. You know, I’ve often noticed, there aren’t too many listeners anymore. Plenty of talkers but handful of listeners. It feels so good to meet someone who understands what actual listening means, what being kind means, what a thoughtful simple gesture can do and so on… Nowadays, it feels more about the big things rather than those little bits of heaven that can make a person feel happier than an entire world of all those big gestures could. I’m not saying the big gestures don’t count. They do. But the little ones do just as much. I can now say that i completely understand what you mean when you say that you can relate to me 🙂 I do too 🙂 Thank you for stumbling upon my blog. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten to meet such a lovely person 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  30. Another wonderfully inspiring post – ironically, that is the exact sentence I said during my mindfulness class today (the subject was generosity) – I asked the students to show me on their fingers how many kind acts they think they could do this week – then followed with ‘remember, just one kind act can go a very long way and really change somebody’s day…’ Just as you mentioned in your post! One of my favourite quotes is ‘Be Kind whenever possible – it is always possible…’ I loved that you shared ways in which you made a difference in the lives of others…I noticed people walking passed the toilet attendant who was cleaning the sink area the other day without even a ‘hello’ – I stopped and thanked her for keeping the toilets so clean and tidy – she smiled and thanked me and told me it meant a lot to her. I don’t know who felt more joy in that moment – the lady or me? Being kind makes our own hearts happy also, not just the person we spread our joy and kindness to – thank you for spreading your kindness with your beautiful post! It was a joy to read xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed it Hayley. I can tell already we have a lot in common. And what a kind thing to do, thanking the toilet attendant, a lot of people wouldn’t bother but I totally agree with you that it takes so little effort and makes everyone happy just spreading a bit of kindness. You no doubt made her day Hayley, if not her week. xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. I must admit, I did leave that toilet with a lovely warm feeling for having made someone else smile – gratitude and kindness really is contagious! 🙂 Keep spreading your wonderful kindness Miriam, I’m sure you really made a difference to those people you came into contact with – those small acts of kindness really do make a big difference! xx

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  32. A smile almost always brings a smile in response, doesn’t it? And it’s the same with kind words. Always better to spread a little happiness, Miriam, and I can feel you trying. I know it’s not easy. Sharp words so often seem to trip off my tongue but when they do I wish that I could bite them back.
    So sorry about your Mum. I’m sure she can feel the love. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  36. It can be hard to take that step back sometimes. I try to take a breath before I respond. Doesn’t work every time, but it helps a lot. Kindness … that’s the grease that keeps the world turning I think. It’s what sets us apart from the animals and reminds us that we’re human. It shows the other person they have value.

    You have value to me. I am thankful to know you, and to have your friendship. *hugs

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I agree Ness, sometimes it can be hard to take that step back but we need to and a lot if we want to avoid hurting others. Your comments always go straight to my heart. I’m so lucky to have you as a friend, you have a beautiful heart. Big big hugs back to you. xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  37. Pingback: A Season of Kindness — Out an’ About-brothersMurray – brothersmurrayworldcom-On

    1. Hi Sonya, thank you. I just read a couple of your posts (Holding on) and I can see you share the same attitude and inspiration. Thank you for following me. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.