Tag Archives: Kindness

Journey of the Apathy Warrior

Thoughts On Life,

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 Over the Christmas season I had my Caring Revolution that you can read here https://sanctuaryacres.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/the-caring-revolution/. I tried to do one nice thing every day to increase the presence of the Christmas Spirit. I posted the above quote to my Facebook page yesterday, thinking, why should it be only a holiday thing?  And so I shared it, thinking everyone could stand to benefit from this.

But then I thought some more. Rarely a good thing. So I shared this post, now what? Does it become buried in my newsfeed, never to be seen again, except perhaps next year in my Facebook memories? That’s not going to work for me. So I am going to keep a log in my Creativity Journal and try to do at least one good act every day to record. So far in 2016, three days have passed. I did a kind act to record on days 1 and 2 but nothing for the 3rd. Today is the 4th day and it is still early so I better get busy.

I will report in on this Journey from time to time with some specifics and let you know how it is going. Please feel free to join this army so that acts of kindness may be spread far and wide.

The face of an Apathy Warrior
The face of an Apathy Warrior

 

Caring Revolution, Part II

Dogs & Other Animals, Thoughts On Life, ,

I didn’t seem to be doing very well at performing caring acts during this holiday season.  I wasn’t sure if I didn’t remember the acts after I did them or if there just weren’t many acts of thoughtfulness. So I decided to keep a list. This turned out to be a very good idea because now I am looking for ways to be kind and show thoughtfulness so I can put it on my list. Maybe not the best motivation but acts become habits and this is a good thing.

First on my list was writing a note to a coworker on my special puffin notepad that I save for special occasions. I told her what a good job she always does of preparing some reports that I need to proofread every month. Her good job makes my life easier.

Stitch

Second on the list is taking in a family member’s cat for “two weeks” while they make accommodations for a change in living circumstances. I suspect this kitty will be here more than two weeks. Infact I suspect he will never leave. I’m ok with that. Our cat population is down. By the way, I am taking him to be neutered on Monday.

Also on the list, writing some personal heartfelt notes in Christmas cards. A number of people have shown me a great amount of compassion this year. Especially at the time of my Mother’s death. I have some pretty impressive friends and family.

This morning I made a call that I have been wanting to make to the local newspaper. They have a column called Sound Off where you can make comments that are published. I thanked our township folks for having the display of Christmas lights lit up when I drive by to go to work at 5 o’clock every morning. It always gives me a smile to start the day.

Nikki  Shelby

And no list of kind acts would be complete without my favorite, the therapy dog visits that Nikki, Shelby, and I make to our friends at the nursing home. I’m not sure it’s fair to count this as a kind act though because I get as much out of it as the friends that I visit.

So my goal for the rest of the holiday season is to continue doing kind acts to add to my list. May your list be long and equally as fulfilling. Merry Christmas, my friends.

The Caring Revolution

Thoughts On Life, ,

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Ok, it’s December 1, I think it’s safe to say the “C” word. The Christmas season is here. One of the things I do every year over this season is to get the above two books out and put some of the suggestions in them into action. They are full of good deeds and thoughts to do for, or share, with others. Be a bit of a Christmas angel if you will. Some of the items are physical acts, such as take Christmas cookies to your neighbors. Others have more to do with thoughts and how you treat people.

Sometimes I flip one of the books open at random and do what the suggestion says. Other times I look through the choices until I find one that strikes my fancy. I don’t manage to perform one of these acts every day but I figure, some is better than none. Just my little contribution to try to make the world a better place.

Readers, if any of you perform any thoughtful acts over this Christmas season, I would love to hear about them. Inspiration from others will feed the kindness and maybe we can have a Caring Revolution! Just post them in the comment section below. I challenge you to try it!

And for today, your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is below. It’s free and you can do it wherever you are. At first glance I thought it was an easy one, but then again maybe it’s not. Let your journey of spreading joy begin!

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The Earrings, or Remember to be Kind

Thoughts On Life, ,

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These are my “Remember to be Kind to People” earrings. That’s what I think whenever I put these on. I will purposely wear them if I know I am going into a situation that is trying or where something may happen that will annoy me. These earrings have super powers that cause me to be kind. Or so I pretend.

Does anyone else do that? Assign thoughts and powers to inanimate objects? I have done it for years. In college I had an opal ring that I would focus on during exams and draw wisdom from the universe. Logically I know these claims are all in my mind. But they are useful if only because they help me focus my thoughts on matters at hand. A talisman if you will.

Back to the earrings. They had auspicious beginnings. I bought them on Harry London Day. If you would like to learn more about Harry London Day, read here https://sanctuaryacres.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/happy-harry-london-day/.  That special day is all about sharing and relationships and love. Each time I put them on, I remember the joy that day brought. I want to be responsible for spreading joy and love. And so I wear the earrings. Each time I put them on I think of them endowing me with the power to always be kind and conduct myself in a manner so that people know I care about them. If I know I am going to see a person that I find tries my patience, or into a situation that may be stressful, on go the earrings. And as I go throughout the day I occasionally remember that I have them on and check to make sure that I am behaving in a tolerant and thoughtful manner.

Although it seems silly to bestow earrings with characteristics that they obviously do not possess, if good comes of it, then it is indeed a magical thing!