Acts of Kindness

Acts of Kindness

Robin @ Kids Matter

Sometimes it seems like the world is going crazy; people can be downright rude and inconsiderate.  Taking the time to help someone, or even offer a friendly “hello” or a warm smile is often out of the question.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is short, but there is always time for courtesy.” Everyone is so caught up in their own world, activities, and priorities, that they often don’t take the time to look up and around at the beautiful world and people around them. 

            Acts of kindness are woefully lacking in our society.  As globalization spreads, and the world becomes smaller, we know less about our neighbors and have become uninvolved in our communities.  Unfortunately, as the world and technology become more advanced, many people become more backward, losing basic social skills.   How do we get them back?  I suggest that one way is by helping others in a self-less, thoughtful, caring way.   According to Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 

            Acts of kindness have become a rarity, but they have also become popular.  There is a random act of kindness week and many people do acts of kindness on their birthdays, one act for each year they have been alive.  A random act of kindness is a nice and self-less act done by one person to help or encourage someone else.  The action should technically be done anonymously, since there shouldn’t be an expectation of a return, such as a “thank you”.  But, just doing kind acts is always great too.  A word of encouragement to a co-worker, or holding the door for someone can make someone’s day.  It’s also very important to teach our children about kindness and encourage them to help others. 

            So, you may be thinking what can I do?  Below are some acts of kindness examples.  This list is by no means exhaustive… it could go on forever.   Be creative in thinking of things to do, and remember that you don’t have to spend money to show kindness.

·       Push your neighbor’s trash cans back beside the house where they belong after trash pickup.

·       Visit a nursing home and interact with those who don’t have any other visitors.

·       Pick up the tab for the person behind you in line at the drive-thru restaurant.

·       Tape change to the soda or snack machine in a hospital or at work.

·       Take canned goods to a food bank.

·       Leave a kind note for a family member or co-worker.

·       Put change in the parking meter for someone whose time is getting low.

·       Donate to the energy assistance fund in your community.

·       Buy a meal for a homeless person.

·       Send flowers to someone in the hospital… the nurses can make sure it goes to someone who doesn’t get many visitors.

·       Take books and magazines you’ve already read to a hospital or nursing home.

·       Pick up trash at a neighborhood park.

For additional acts of kindness please see Random Acts of Kindness.

World AIDS Day 2013

World AIDS Day 2013

Lynnsey @ Kids Matter

“I'm a real person, and I'm angry. I'm trying to use this celebrity thing to get people some help. AIDS, poverty, racism - I want to be one of the hands that helps stop all that. I'll put it on my shoulders. I'll charge it to my account.” Jamie Foxx

His name was Ben. I see his smile every time I look at the person I love. I see the pain he caused and the people he left behind. Ben had buried his truth so deep that his only option became to leave his family.  Years later, Elizabeth, his daughter, would meet him for the first time, and as they cried in each other’s arms, saying nothing, it became painfully clear that this tearful reunion would be short-lived. You see, Ben was dying of AIDS. And as his daughter watched him become an 80 pound shell of the man he used to be, she vowed to be his voice and to educate those around her about this horrible disease.

It is this passion that embodies the idea of World Aids Day. Originally conceived in 1988, it is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic worldwide. Today, more than 35 million people are living with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). It is an epidemic that, since 1981, has claimed the lives of more than 25 million people and has become one of the world’s most serious health and development challenges[1] Three decades ago, it was seen as a disease exclusive to a specific community, however, we know now that though people may discriminate, AIDS does not. It affects both men and women of every race and does not care if you are gay or straight or young or old. Some of the scarier statistics show that 95% of new infections (half under the age of 25) occur in individuals that reside in low- and middle- income countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where access to prevention education, care, and treatment is scarce.[2] Many who are infected with AIDS are unaware of their infection which can lead to unknowingly passing the virus to another person.

Many will ask, “What can I do to make a difference on World AIDS Day?” The answer is simple. AIDS is a preventable disease. Just making the personal commitment to yourself to never have unprotected sexual intercourse can save your life and the lives of others. If you wish to take it a step further, contact your local AIDS organization. Non-profit organizations are always looking for volunteers who are willing to participate in community outreach and other programs that help educate our communities about the prevention, care, and treatment of AIDS. If nothing else, start a dialogue with a coworker or change your profile picture to a red ribbon. Get the word out. Together, we can not only honor the millions like Ben who have succumbed to this disease, but also ensure that future generations have a brighter and healthier story to tell.

1.      http://kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/the-global-hivaids-epidemic/

2.      Global Health Policy

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