Imagine the world without anger, without greed. We have the power, the tools, the skills and the resources right now to build a peaceful world, where people live in harmony with the Earth and each other. This blog explores ways we are doing just that, one post, one change, one day at a time. Join me. Tell your stories. Ask for help. Spread your ideas for making the vision real and, well, ordinary.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Committing random acts of kindness

His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Image courtesy
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

It's here! Today is the Dalai Lama's seventy-fifth birthday. People all over the world are sending love and wishes for joy to this man who has devoted his entire life to peace, compassion and loving kindness.

Last week, I told you about Se'Lah's call to build a bridge of love through random acts of kindness in celebration of this special day. Dozens of people responded to her call.


People building the bridge

Here are a few of the many individuals who are adding an extra dose of mindfulness to their day as a gift of love to His Holiness. There are many more.

  • If you're stumped for a worthy random act of kindness, Winnie Jolicoeur of Secret Notebooks, Wild Pages made a list of suggestions. She also posted a lovely Dalai Lama quote: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
  • Cinner of Me, My four chins, and I has plans for several random acts of kindness, one of which is to sit on a hospital bench after her appointment and lend a smile and an ear to another visitor there.
  • For Chris of An Inch of Time, it could be as simple as complimenting someone on their hairdo or paying for the coffee of the person in line behind you. She quotes His Holiness: "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
  • Gayle's gift to the Dalai Lama today, according to her post on Planet M Files, is multiple. She plans to donate books to her library, to send something special to someone she cares about, and to be on the alert for ways throughout the day to commit sudden kindness.
  • Marilyn of Delights of the Heart is donating a special tea basket to be auctioned at a fundraiser for children with cancer.
  • Teresha at Marlie and Me chose not to plan because she wanted her acts of kindness today to be truly random. She tells of being the recipient of another's kindness when she most needed it. A college freshman at the time, a few weeks into the first term and far from home, Teresha received a call that her mother was in the emergency room with a life-threatening condition. Without hesitation, her new roommate grabbed her car keys and offered to drive Teresha home, saving her agonizing extra hours on a Greyhound bus.

I wish I had space and time to share more with you. Many of the gestures are small and local, but that's the point, isn't it? We spread a little cheer and good will where we stand, where we can, and where see a need.

Happy Birthday, gentle man

His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Image courtesy
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama


Celebrate!

If you are the giver or the recipient of a random of act of kindness today, celebrate a bit. Tell us about it and how it made you feel. His Holiness might enjoy hearing about it as well, along with a happy birthday wish.


And bless one another

May our lives be filled with more kindness and love than we imagined possible. May our hearts be so full that we can't stop showing compassion to those we meet along the way.

___
 
We make peace in a million small ways every day.
All text and images, unless otherwise noted, copyright L. Kathryn Grace. All rights reserved.

11 comments:

Umā said...

Thanks so much for linking to me (and following), nice to "meet" you here! Btw, Winnie is my mom, you can just call me m. heart or Melanie ; )

Cindy said...

Hi Kathryn, Thank you so much for mentioning me in your post today. today was not a good day health wise for me, so I actually stopped at 4 benches on my way to my doctors appointment, I talked to a lady about her son and how hard it was to see him in the hospital. she was crying when I sat down, I really believe she needed someone to listen to. I had a good day and a bunch of us were laughing in the waiting room, so my day turned out great. take care and again thanks for mentioning my little blog. hugs.

Hayden said...

Lovely. And I totally forgot. BUT. All was not lost. I had lunch with an old friend (that I didn't remember, eeeekkkk!) and did my best to encourage her. She does not live with joy.

Luckily, today's Medicine Card was porcupine, which urges us to find/recover our childlike sense of play and use it to encourage others. Which is just what I did. She was smiling when we parted...

SE'LAH... said...

love the links too, Kathryn. And Cinner's comment brings pure joy to my heart. You are a great advocate of love and kindness. one love.

Marilyn Miller said...

Thanks for mentioning Delights of the Heart here today. Random acts of kindness no matter how small or large are dear and such a special way of celebrating.

Gayle said...

Hi Kathryn! Thank you for mentioning my blog in your post and for visiting me! It's great to meet you!

Tracy said...

Hello, Kathryn Grace! I come here via Se'Lah's wonderful Random Act of Kindness day. This is an uplifting post... and your blog full of inspiration. Glad to meet you! :o)

Wanda said...

Turns out I received the kindness I was going to give.

Happy Birthday, DL...
and my brother...

and RINGO STARR who is 70 today!

Unknown said...

I appreciate the link back and the opportunity to get to read your blog and the others you mentioned. you are a true bridge builder!

Deb Shucka said...

Such a wonderful post - so full of love and light, just like the man whose birthday inspired all this kindness. Thank you.

graceonline said...

To each of you who commented above, my heart feels blessed to see all your comments and the ways this post has touched you, as so many of your blogs touch me. Some of you I have been reading long, others I discovered through your comments on Se'lah's call to build the bridge. I look forward to getting to know each of you better. Thank you so much for stopping by.

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