Kinder than necessary, I really like the sound of that- it tells us that kind is necessary, and we can go above ourselves by being kinder than what is necessary. 

A few weeks back I met a man on the bus who is visually impaired. Actually, we got on the bus together. I watched him fumble to get a seat, thanking the bus driver and the person who gave the seat to him; I watched him as he tapped on his iphone repeatedly so an app could tell him where he was at. The seat next to him frees up, and I hesistated for a bit before plonking myself into the seat right next to him. 

"You need help? Maybe I could look out for the bus stop for you." I finally mumbled after a lot of consideration: What if he felt lousy for needing help? What if he didn't need help? Would I be embarrassed in any way if I offered help? And oh my gosh, why is it so hard to lend a helping hand (or eyes) (in this case)? 

Always choose kindness. Even when you have to choose between what is right to do or kindness, choose kindness. 

Don't you think the world needs a little bit more of that? A smile, a greeting, buying a tissue packet, giving up a seat, helping someone who seems lost, talking to the classmate who's always a little left out, caring for the elderly, the injured or the broken-hearted or looking out for the bus-stop for someone who is visually impaired. 

Each and every day, we make choices. We see a need; do we choose to avoid it or respond to it? Do we choose kindness? 

I'm not a saint; and I admit that there are days I'm tired and do not see the man who needs the seat more than me, there are days I roll my eyes at the behaviour of a classmate who's socially awkward, and there are days I just want to choose myself over others, over kindness. 

I had the best bus ride I had in years that day- the conversation I had with the man left me overwhelmed with emotions. I admired his strength, his positivity about what life has thrown at him. I compared my problems to his problem and all of a sudden mine became pretty insignificant (not that they're not difficult anymore, but I know I would and could overcome them).  I was thankful, extra grateful for the things I could do. I think I've forgotten what a blessing it is to be able to wake up being able to see the sunlight stream in through the windows, to be able to read the words in a book, to be able to get from one place to another comfortably. I've forgotten that each day is a gift, and maybe lost sight of how tremendously blessed I am. 

I realised that day that when you choose kindness, it is not more for others than it is for yourself. Kindness is a reminder. When we give up a seat to the elderly, we can be thankful for being healthy and strong. When we talk to an 'outcast' in class, we can be thankful for having friends. When we buy a tissue packet, we can be thankful for our jobs. When we help someone in need, what we have (and most often take for granted) becomes so much clearer to us and we start to see life in a different perspective: through lens of thankfulness. 

Someone once told me that satisfaction is the key to happiness; a person can be rich, affluent, drop dead gorgeous but if he/she is not satisfied, then yea he/she will not be happy. Thankfulness leads us to being satisfied people, and thankfulness leads to happiness. 

(: I hope I can influence you to choose kindness and let that change you and the way you see life. We all have those days and that's okay, but whenever we can, choose kindness, choose others and well.. "The world will be a better place" (it really will, I really believe so) 😊

Kinder than necessary, I really like the sound of that- it tells us that kind is necessary, and we can go above ourselves by being kinder than what is necessary. 

A few weeks back I met a man on the bus who is visually impaired. Actually, we got on the bus together. I watched him fumble to get a seat, thanking the bus driver and the person who gave the seat to him; I watched him as he tapped on his iphone repeatedly so an app could tell him where he was at. The seat next to him frees up, and I hesistated for a bit before plonking myself into the seat right next to him. 

"You need help? Maybe I could look out for the bus stop for you." I finally mumbled after a lot of consideration: What if he felt lousy for needing help? What if he didn't need help? Would I be embarrassed in any way if I offered help? And oh my gosh, why is it so hard to lend a helping hand (or eyes) (in this case)? 

Always choose kindness. Even when you have to choose between what is right to do or kindness, choose kindness. 

Don't you think the world needs a little bit more of that? A smile, a greeting, buying a tissue packet, giving up a seat, helping someone who seems lost, talking to the classmate who's always a little left out, caring for the elderly, the injured or the broken-hearted or looking out for the bus-stop for someone who is visually impaired. 

Each and every day, we make choices. We see a need; do we choose to avoid it or respond to it? Do we choose kindness? 

I'm not a saint; and I admit that there are days I'm tired and do not see the man who needs the seat more than me, there are days I roll my eyes at the behaviour of a classmate who's socially awkward, and there are days I just want to choose myself over others, over kindness. 

I had the best bus ride I had in years that day- the conversation I had with the man left me overwhelmed with emotions. I admired his strength, his positivity about what life has thrown at him. I compared my problems to his problem and all of a sudden mine became pretty insignificant (not that they're not difficult anymore, but I know I would and could overcome them).  I was thankful, extra grateful for the things I could do. I think I've forgotten what a blessing it is to be able to wake up being able to see the sunlight stream in through the windows, to be able to read the words in a book, to be able to get from one place to another comfortably. I've forgotten that each day is a gift, and maybe lost sight of how tremendously blessed I am. 

I realised that day that when you choose kindness, it is not more for others than it is for yourself. Kindness is a reminder. When we give up a seat to the elderly, we can be thankful for being healthy and strong. When we talk to an 'outcast' in class, we can be thankful for having friends. When we buy a tissue packet, we can be thankful for our jobs. When we help someone in need, what we have (and most often take for granted) becomes so much clearer to us and we start to see life in a different perspective: through lens of thankfulness. 

Someone once told me that satisfaction is the key to happiness; a person can be rich, affluent, drop dead gorgeous but if he/she is not satisfied, then yea he/she will not be happy. Thankfulness leads us to being satisfied people, and thankfulness leads to happiness. 

(: I hope I can influence you to choose kindness and let that change you and the way you see life. We all have those days and that's okay, but whenever we can, choose kindness, choose others and well.. "The world will be a better place" (it really will, I really believe so) 😊