Kindness is compassion to the fullest extent. It's not thought very highly of in our self-indulging culture, but is greatly respected by everyone.
Let's bring back the kindness!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Shiver Me Timbers
If you live in the Chicago area like I do, I bet you are shivering right about now. The city is in the icy grip of a record cold wave that sent last nights temps bottoming out at -22. The stiff wind makes it feel like around -41 at this time.
Imagine that you are homeless, wandering the streets of downtown Chicago, just looking for somewhere to warm up. You already have gotten frostbite, and now in danger of hypothermia. You enter an establishment, but are quickly kicked out. You finally find another establishment and enter. This time no one seems to notice you, except for a man sitting a couple of tables away from you. He approaches you, a McDonald's gift card in hand, and hands it to you. He wishes you a great day, to keep warm, and exits.
You are taken aback by this random act of kindness. Normally the patrons will avoid you or ignore you. You walk up and order some food with the gift card, and finally nourish your hunger pangs and the warmth of the place. When you feel you are ready to brave the cold again, you head out into the biting winds, albeit this time with a full stomach.
The above scenario is hopefully played out every day in Chicago, as well as other large cities and metropolitan areas. A random act of kindness can go a long way. In fact, it will be remembered for days by the recipient.
How about a random act of kindness?
Imagine that you are homeless, wandering the streets of downtown Chicago, just looking for somewhere to warm up. You already have gotten frostbite, and now in danger of hypothermia. You enter an establishment, but are quickly kicked out. You finally find another establishment and enter. This time no one seems to notice you, except for a man sitting a couple of tables away from you. He approaches you, a McDonald's gift card in hand, and hands it to you. He wishes you a great day, to keep warm, and exits.
You are taken aback by this random act of kindness. Normally the patrons will avoid you or ignore you. You walk up and order some food with the gift card, and finally nourish your hunger pangs and the warmth of the place. When you feel you are ready to brave the cold again, you head out into the biting winds, albeit this time with a full stomach.
The above scenario is hopefully played out every day in Chicago, as well as other large cities and metropolitan areas. A random act of kindness can go a long way. In fact, it will be remembered for days by the recipient.
How about a random act of kindness?
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Feeling the Cabin Fever
Have you ever felt cooped up? A little blah? Antsy? If so , I can identify with that about now.
Chicago is now in the midst of one of it's worst weather sequence of events in nearly 20 years. Began with an 18-inch snowfall on New Years Eve into New Years Day, and also Jan 2. We were hit again on Saturday evening/night Jan 4 with almost 6 more inches, and still snowing as I write this about 10:55AM CDT Sun Jan 5. Adding to the misery will be a record cold snap this evening through Tuesday (Jan 6-7) when it will drop below 0 and not get above it until Wednesday. Looks like will be home bound for a couple more days here.
But looking ahead, the kindness-spreading will ramp up once again. Will travel back to Haiti later this month, and spend time loving on orphaned children. These kids don't know what they don't have. If you were to give them a video game or an iPhone, they would not know what to do with it, and likely will get rid of it somehow. It's their lifestyle of simplicity.
Spread some kindness this week
Chicago is now in the midst of one of it's worst weather sequence of events in nearly 20 years. Began with an 18-inch snowfall on New Years Eve into New Years Day, and also Jan 2. We were hit again on Saturday evening/night Jan 4 with almost 6 more inches, and still snowing as I write this about 10:55AM CDT Sun Jan 5. Adding to the misery will be a record cold snap this evening through Tuesday (Jan 6-7) when it will drop below 0 and not get above it until Wednesday. Looks like will be home bound for a couple more days here.
But looking ahead, the kindness-spreading will ramp up once again. Will travel back to Haiti later this month, and spend time loving on orphaned children. These kids don't know what they don't have. If you were to give them a video game or an iPhone, they would not know what to do with it, and likely will get rid of it somehow. It's their lifestyle of simplicity.
Spread some kindness this week
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