In praise of kindness

Today I have recieved a lot of kindness form other GN's

Like this. Just thinking about kindness has a calming effect on me. I think I will try to be kind today.

Nice thread Grannyk. I'm going to make a bit more effort to be kinder today too

Reminds me of the Girl Guides - we were encouraged to do a good deed every day. Even a smile and a cheery word as you pass someone in the street can count.

It doesn't cost anything either does it? But it is a good tonic for both the giver and the recipient

Grannyknot How good to see this thread. I was thinking about the concept of kindness just yesterday. Well timed.

Traditional tale

A wise woman who travelled in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream as she was foraging for food. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveller left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him a lifetime of security. However a few days later he returnedto the mountain with the stone to find the wise woman.

"I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

I love being kind, it does make me feel happy in myself.

I think I've become much kinder as I've got older though, as when I was younger, I wasn't so bothered about other peoples feelings.

I agree completely Ella46. That's probably the way of the world.

Do people set out to be unkind, I wonder, or are they just thoughtless?

The kindness of Gransnetters is hard to beat - we don't know each other, we have nothing to gain or lose, so there is no hidden agenda. Therefore GN responses and help have such real value. Lucky us. to all.

Nice thread grannyknot. I have a crosstitch wall hanging in my hall which I did years ago "Love is kind". I try to live by the motto but have not always succeeded. It gets easier to do as I get older.

[like] thumbs up emoticom

Kindness to be praised indeed. I have received a seemingly endless stream of kindness since I had my fall - from gransnetters, neighbours, family. It has made it all worthwhile in a strange way - to know how kind and caring people can be. That is one lesson I will take away from all this - not to be backward in sending out kindness, as it has meant so much to me. And the other lesson - patience! - evrything takes an eternity and I am exhausted most of the time, and I am having to learn to let it all flow by! As DD said yesterday - yes, you are dependent on others at the moment, but just go with it and let people help as they wish - it will in turn help them as they will enjoy extending kindness to you.

In Istanbul last week DH & I experienced lots of kindness from local people only too happy to help lost tourists and try to help them around the city as our map reading skills seemed to fail us on more than one occasion!

In my world of 'cup half full' I try to remember it is only the bad or one off things that are news or that we remember most easily.
The thousands of good deeds, courtesies and kindness that make up most of life we do not always see so easily.

Happily I have not experienced too much unkindness in my life & I do try hard to be kind and always encourage kindness in the children with whom I work. Mostly they are

You reminded me nanej of the wonderful kindness we found in Japan. From people asking if they could help 2 very perplexed looking Europeans at railway station and monuments, to teenagers wanting to go out of their way to take us to the Peace Park in Hiroshima when we had (surprise, surprise!!) caught the wrong bus and people stopping us in the street to ask if we liked their country. Later, and above all, the kindness we found while our son was in hospital which extended to offers of accommodation from complete strangers and people being ready to translate all the medical jargon should we need help.

i agree nanaej, little every day kindnesses are what makes the daily grind, more pleasant. Kindness is infectious the more you receive the more you want to give. My DD has instilled it into my DGC and I think, despite a few lapses, they are very thoughtful and kind children. Nice thread Grannyknot

When my daughter was dangerously ill and I had to fly back to England the next day, my French neighbours rallied round, took care of my cat and looked after my house and garden for the four months I had to be away.
I have had to learn to accept kindness - it takes as much grace to receive as it does to give. I constantly receive kindness here and on other forums. Yesterday, Juragran came home from England and had gone to the trouble of finding a spin drier for me as I don't have room for a washing machine in my little flat. I have been wringing out washing by hand, but I wasn't looking forward to trying to get things dry in the Winter. She also brought me big packs of bacon, sausage and Yorkshire Tea. Thank you, friends!

Grannyknot I like the following quotation - 'Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.' [Theodore Isaac Rubin]

I like that, soop.

Grannyknot.

Kindness is a loving word
That no one else can hear
Kindness is a little song
That brings a world of cheer

Kindness is a friendly face
When one is growing old
Kindness is a glowing warmth
When all the world is cold

Kindness is a helping hand
Across a busy street
Which makes our joy complete

Kindness is a 'something'
We never really see
But how immense the difference
It makes to you and me.

OOPS

Should read

Kindess is a helping hand
Across a busy street
Kindness is the loving smile
Which makes our joy complete.

That's lovely POGS

There was an item on Radio 4 some time ago, an interview with a man who is now a charity worker for the homeless. He had been deported from the USA ending up here, living on the streets and a petty criminal. He told of how he was arrested and in a police cell one night and the custody officer came along and said "Eh mate do you want a cup of tea." The man concerned said that this simple act of kindness was a turning point for him. He felt that at last someone had cared about his welfare because they had offered him that very simple act of comfort.

I think the British solution to offer a "cup of tea" in an emergency or crisis just shows a persons wish to offer support and comfort at a time when there is nothing else you can do for a person. However mundane or pointless it may seem in our cynical world is an act of real kindness.

I've enjoyed reading all your comments, made me feel [sun]. I recently read an article (which is what got me thinking about kindness in general) about putting kindness back into professional environments, that said that kindness makes people emotionally attractive, and encompasses friendliness, consideration and generosity. I like all of those.

oops that should be made me feel ! (warm)