Kindness is Power

A casual exploration of what kindness actually is, and how you can easily use it to improve your life and the lives of others.

Let’s start this journey with a little self-talk.

Do you want to be happy?

Yes, right?

Do you want others to be happy?

Probably yes too, right?

Do others want you to be happy?

A little hesitation on that one, huh? Maybe even a no?

Well it’s not true!

Just like you want others to be happy, they want the same for you.

After you read this article, you’ll be motivated to create a small shift to bring more kindness into your life, and the lives of others.

The power of a simple act of kindness is already within you.

Over the last 20 years, researchers have been studying what has been termed “positive psychology,” an analysis of how uplifting emotions like gratitude, love, joy, and inspiration affect our wellbeing and literally improve our lives.

What’s incredible is these emotions are already within us; it’s just a matter of whether or not we take intentional action to express them.

One of the easiest ways to do this is through performing acts of kindness.

So what is kindness anyway?

Kindness simply is a positive action that leaves someone in a better situation than before.

It doesn’t have to be as extravagant as paying for someone’s surgery or spending hours and hours volunteering.

Literally, it can be anything.

A smile. Hold the door open for another. Bring food to someone. Pay for the person in line behind you. Connect with a stranger. Say ‘I love you’ to someone close.

Even treating yourself to a night out, getting a pedicure, or a massage are all acts of kindness.

Yes, that’s right, you can, and should, be kind to yourself too!

So often we hold back from being kind because we don’t know what to do or we don’t think our actions will make an impact, but they do! The research proves this.

What’s important is to just take action no matter how small.

To get you started take a look at some awesome ideas from Kindness.org and the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Wow! Kindness is easier than I thought, but what’s the point?

I’m glad you asked, kindness not only benefits others, but it also improves your life as much or more!

The science shows that some of the benefits of kindness are:

• Improved immune system functioning
• Decreased stress levels
• Feelings of meaning and purpose
• A sense of connectedness

Super cool, right?

Check out these awesome cases of kindness in practice.

The Good Cards: The Good Cards is a modern day version of the Pay it Forward movement that uses technology for good. With a mobile app and a physical Good Card, users are able to do good deeds, share their positive stories, and inspire others to join in the action all while being able to track the ripple effect of kindness that happens around the world in a fun and meaningful way.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Nowadays in schools, a shift in our standardized education has started to incorporate more curricula that addresses emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and positive psychology. By doing this, we are creating micro-habits of kindness with our youth; empowering them to not only be the leaders of tomorrow, but to be the ‘Kindness Leaders of tomorrow.’

Rotary International: In over 35,000 communities around the world, Rotary has created a space for neighbors to come together and help their communities flourish. Whether it’s raising funds for a local not-for-profit, doing an environmental cleanup, or engaging students in service learning, Rotary is empowering people globally to be a force for good.

Okay, I’m ready to put kindness into ACTION!

You’re all set.

Now you can see how powerful kindness actually is and how simple it is to do.

Once you start, you’ll create a ripple effect that’ll inspire people all around you to spread kindness too.

Remember with The Good Cards you’ll be able to track that impact as you inspires kindness around the world.

Don’t be shy, share with us, what’s one kind act you plan to do today?

Milk of human kindness: Tokoroa mum who breastfed stranger's baby remembers not getting a feed every day

 A story from the Waikato Times by Sharmae Hope, November 8, 2021

Piripono Brown’s only gripe after offering her breast to a stranger’s hungry baby on the streets of Tokoroa is that the kind gesture did not go unnoticed.

The shy mother of three, originally from Hamilton, has admitted to being the woman who helped out a woman recovering from drug addiction, who was sitting distressed outside Tainui Superette last week.

Susan Johnson was unable to produce her own milk and had run out of money to buy baby formula due to her husband starting a new job and her application for a benefit still being processed.

Brown, who has had her own struggles, told Stuff she did not think twice about “giving the baby the boob” and would do it again.

Piripono Brown breastfed a distressed mother’s baby last week outside Tainui Dairy in Tokoroa. 

She is pictured with her own baby, Pounamu.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” Brown told Stuff while cradling her own 3-month-old baby.

“Baby was hungry right then and I had milk that would have gone to waste. I just wanted to feed her straight away instead of running off to get formula. It is all natural anyway.”

Growing up in a rough area of Fairfield, Brown can empathise with Johnson’s situation.

While substance addiction was not rife in her household, her mum became an alcoholic after her husband died.

She often remembers wondering when her family might get their next feed.

                            “Baby was hungry right then and I had milk that would have gone to waste,” said Piripono Brown, who has three children.

“My mum tried really hard to provide for us but it was expensive to feed eight kids.'’

Her mum often had to reach out to foodbanks or generous community members to keep the cupboards stocked, she said.

“I don’t remember having a bad upbringing but we didn’t get a feed every day.” 

Now, at 24 years old, she is really appreciative of what she has and is always willing to help others in need.

“My kids are happy and healthy and have a home, whereas there are others who don't have those things.

“I am definitely not rich but I am just fortunate enough to be able to help.”

The free feed and gifting of $200 worth of groceries to Johnson is not where Brown’s generosity ends either.

                                                             Piripono Brown has been keeping other families’ bellies full as well. 

Over the past month, Brown has bought groceries for more than 50 families in Tokoroa.

She set up a Facebook page called Tokoroa Free Kai and has been supplying weekly groceries to those in need.

As well as working part-time at First Security, she is studying He Papa Tikanga (Māori worldviews) online and completing a course in health and wellbeing.

She hopes to have a career in health one day.

“I don’t want anything in return. I just like to help and it makes me happy seeing others happy.”

                                                                 Piripono Brown’s son, Pounamu Brown, is 3 months old.

Here is a link to a short interview wih Piripono Brown and the full article.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300449141/milk-of-human-kindness-tokoroa-mum-who-breastfed-strangers-baby-remembers-not-getting-a-feed-every-day

SHARNAE HOPE • WAIKATO REPORTER
sharnae.hope@stuff.co.nz

COVID_19 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: A MESSAGE FROM CATHERINE LEE

KINDNESS_GRATITUDE_CONNECTION

"There are aways many times when we reflect on our philosophy and pedagogy and right now is one of those times.  This global pandemic has seen many of our children staying at home; many of our families working from home; many families becoming unemployed and some of our children continuing to play and learn at preschool each day.  

 This has been a provocation for me and my Educational Team to reflect on kindness, gratitude, connection, and staying true to our philosophy.  We have opened our hearts even more to our children and families to support them during this very challenging time.  And as we have found more ways to celebrate gratitude, we too have found more joy in teaching and sharing our lives with our children and families.  

 One of our acts of kindness was inspired by how the pandemic was impacting and restricting our children's and families' freedom to enjoy their neighbourhood.  In NSW, Australia, public playgrounds are closed and families are only allowed to move around their neighborhood to exercise. I became very aware that during the 2 weeks school holidays our gorgeous nature-filled outdoor learning environment would be empty of children.  So with careful planning, I invited 2 families a day to play and exercise in our playground.  This supported their connection to the preschool and provided our children and their families to have a morning or afternoon outside their homes, knowing they were safe and not breaking any rules. Our families have told us that this very simple act of kindness meant so much to them.

   

Although now my days are filled with more policy writing and implementing new procedures to ensure the safety of my team, children and their families, I am so privileged to be able to continue to teach each day.   This brings me great joy, especially during this time.  

Loris Malaguzzi's words are always in my heart - "Nothing without joy". 

Catherine Lee

Director/Nominated Supervisor and Early Childhood Teacher  

The Point Preschool

Oyster Bay, Sydney

Australia

Our vision is to continue the dream of the Oyster Bay parents who originally built the preschool to create a preschool that nurtures and values children and brings families and communities together. Proudly providing high quality, not-for-profit, community-based early childhood education since 1956.

We acknowledge the original custodians of this land, the Dharawal people and their language and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the community.

What does gratitude look like?

This morning when I got up and read my local paper I was overwhelmed by the beauty of one woman's story in our paper. This story was written in our paper by a Stuff Report Libby Wilson and was entitled "Coronavirus: Cancer treatment in Hamilton during Covid-19 lockdown like a 'holiday''. It was certainly a title that caught my attention.

I am sure this would not feel like a holiday to me. But this is the feeling of Metua Tangaro-Daniel-Malietoa who was to begin her radiation treatment during lockdown. She says this: 
"For me, as a grandmother of eight, and four adult children ... It's the first time I have actually just not cooked, or done any kind of housework. It's like, oh, wow, thank you Lord. It's a blessing," the Tokoroa woman said.

 Metua has four adult children and eight grandchildren, so it's a change to have no cooking or housework to do while she stays in the Cancer Society's Lions Lodge in Hamilton. She was full of praise for the place she was staying in, the people around her and the meals.

Each day she writes daily thank you notes on the back of her menu! As Libby Wilson writes the former social worker says she has never eaten or slept so much, but has fitted in some work for community organisations, and daily video calls with mokos. I want to wish Metua all the best for her life ahead. I have no doubt that it is filled with joy...  as Ivan Panin wrote:

For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to recieve it. 

Thank you Metua for bringing joy into my life today. Arohanui Wendy

Kindness from a distance

 We are so delighted to share this post from these Yeshiva University business students...

Kindness from a Distance is a movement started by four Yeshiva University business students, Maia Dori, Tali Goldman, Atara Rolnick, and Pamela Abraham in an effort to spread kindness and positivity during these difficult times filled with uncertainty and fear. This account was made with one goal in mind, to spread as much positivity and kindness during this time of isolation as possible. They wanted to spread positivity through doing small acts of kindness for others, in order to bring people closer together during this time when we are all apart.

A hashtag was started, #kindnessfromadistance, to allow people to share their acts of kindness with one another. Additionally, people can send their kind acts and be featured on the Instagram page. This helped inspire people to do other kind acts from a distance and gave them new ideas! This Instagram quickly blossomed into a kindness community filled with engaging dialogue among followers and cheerful daily stories filled with inspiring quotes. Please check us out on Instagram @kindnessfromadistance and send a picture of you doing an act of kindness if you would like to be featured on our page!

https://www.instagram.com/kindnessfromadistance/

Here are some ideas for kind acts you could do from a distance... 

 

 

 

 

Please check us out on Instagram @kindnessfromadistance and send a picture of you doing an act of kindness if you would like to be featured on our page!

We hope you will take time to contribute to this group, you could also use their hashtag on your instagram posts #kindnessfromadistance 

https://www.instagram.com/kindnessfromadistance/

It is important to give thanks for each day, there is so much research now into the power of gratitude. For example there is scientific evidence that by practising gratitude we can create some important biological changes, such as a decrease in cortisol and stress levels. Gratitude will boost our energy on so many levels and create a more positive and enthusiastic outlook on life.

Amit Amin has a blog and has written about ‘The 31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About: How Gratitude Can Change Your Life’…

He has developed this graphic listing all the benefits of gratitude that he compiled from the results of more than 40 research studies on gratitude. Check out his full blog 

http://happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/

20 Random Acts of Kindness

Stephanie Dowick writes in her book 'Everyday Kindness'...

"Kindness will build our resilience and positivity, as well as concern for ourselves and others. It will protect us against the self-doubt and self-pity that would otherwise sap our strength. It will radically enhance our connections with others and our awareness of our capacity to give generously - and repeat the benefits that come with this. Bring kindness into the bigger picture of our lives will wake up and utilize our powers to choose, and to choose wisely and well. It will make us much easier to like and to love.

Our acts of kindness toward other people also depend on our consciousness of choice, and a willingness to take charge of our attitudes and actions. Those acts of kindness demonstrate a life-changing awareness that other people matter."

Make a commitment now to embed 20 random acts of kindness in your life this month. Encourage the children in your setting to do this and make it visible in your documentation. Demonstrate to everyone around you that kindness is valued. If we privilege kindness your life and the lives of others around you will flourish. Take the initiative and create a kinder world. 

The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life

Here is a lovely book to consider reading! A lovely light summer read for the beach! It is a true story of a transformational change in a man’s life.

365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life

Author John Kralik

This book was written by a man whole life fell apart at every level, his relationships with his children and partner, his work, his health.

Then, while out tramping on New Years’ Day, John was struck by the thought that his life might become at least tolerable if he could be grateful for what he had.  He was inspired by a beautiful, simple note he had received thanking him for a Christmas gift, John set himself the goal of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.

It was transformational.

Note by note, day after day, he handwrote the thank you notes for gifts or kindnesses he’d received, large and small, from loved ones and coworkers, past business associates and current foes, school friends and doctors and handymen and neighbours, and anyone, really, who’d done him a good turn.

Immediately after he’d sent his very first notes, surprising benefits began to come John’s way.  Over the year John was writing his notes, his whole life turned around.

365 Thankyous

 

Ever wondered where the equivalent tradition of simple gratitude has gone? Sometimes in our busy day and age we forget how the act of thanking someone in return can actually mean the world to people. ‘365 Thank Yous’ tells the heart-warming true story of John Kralik, who in his early 50s believed he was failing in all aspects of life, love, health and work but turned it all around in one year all due to two words: “Thank You”.

Gratitude is the gift that keeps on giving, and Kralik was one who definitely discovered its true importance. He wrote one Thank you letter for every day of the year starting in 2008, and managed to gain friendships, heal a dying relationship, raise money and pay off debts, become closer to his family and change his entire perspective of life simply through his many notes, described as an ‘anthology of gratitude’ in the book.

His beautifully simple and caring notes are scattered through the book and readers get to have a close insight into how friendships can grow through small, kind actions. Even after the year of thank yous, Kralik has not stopped sending out his little messages of gratitude as he knows now how much they have changed his life forever.

This book is one well-worth reading and tells an incredible story which will give hope to those in need of a little happiness. As quoted from Kralik: “Until you learn to be grateful for the things you have, you will not receive the things you want. Human caring stands out as a unique and invaluable treasure”. Take a note from his book, and write a Thank you note to someone who has been kind to you; it is a simple act of kindness and you never know what happiness it will bring to you and others.