Changing despair to hope

June 29, 2016

hopingI keep hoping that if we all just concentrate on being kind and doing kindnesses, including random acts of kindness, we’ll counteract some of the nastiness that we see all around us this season. That’s what I hope, anyway.

I love random acts of kindness. You know, the stuff you do without any big planning. You pay for someone’s lunch. You give a bottle of water to a homeless person–or many bottles to many homeless– or dog food to their dogs.  On the spur of the moment, you make and hand out sandwiches in a homeless encampment.

So if you have a regular practice of random acts of kindness or any kindness at all, I wonder what would happen if you, we, all of us amped that up over the next few months. Surely our own moods would elevate. It would make the object of our kindness happy.

And who knows? The world might even begin to change.

You never know.

Here’s something I wrote a few years ago about how that could work. How it worked for me. And how it might work for you.

Come take a look. Because we can all take it further than hoping.

 

Changing our country one person at a time

17 comments on “Changing despair to hope
  1. Leanne says:

    I’m off to have a read of that post Carol – I love the whole ‘random act of kindness’ concept and I think it has a LOT of merit!

  2. Stephanie says:

    Great perspective during such a sad time…it’s important to have hope!

  3. Now that we live at the beach we see homeless people all around us. The community is deeply divided about what to do when we encounter them, because there is a theory that by not helping with handouts, it will encourage those who want to change their situation to go to shelters for more consistent help and care.

    I love to do random acts of kindness and need to remember to do it on an ordinary day, not just holidays or when the world is crazy.

  4. Carla says:

    I’ve talked so much with my 10-year-old about the importance of doing on to others and we talk about the Jewish notion of mitzvahs and how, according to the Jewish faith, the highest mitzvah you can do is one which is anonymous. We’ve also talked about that helpers high or boost random acts of kindness give to us. I will think of you as I do some today…

  5. Paula Miller says:

    Thank you for this Carol! We need more kindness in the world!

  6. Beth Havey says:

    I try every day to be kind. My husband is so kind in so many ways, volunteering and helping the homeless. I try to do my work through writing, like my recent blog post that emphasizes how we HAVE to change our vocabulary and our actions to become a united country. Hope is always there. Thanks, Carol.

  7. GiGi Eats says:

    I am a very optimistic person, so I never really have any negative thoughts. I might feel a little less motivated one day vs. the next, but hardly enough to make me depressed!

  8. I;m not sure I buy the concept of “random acts”. I prefer concerted acts- ones we choose to do, several times a day, to ensure we enrich the lives of others as well as ourselves.

  9. sue says:

    I read your post Carol and it warmed my heart to think there are still people like you in this world – no judgement just supporting other human beings. Thank you xx

  10. Sheri says:

    If we would all do something nice for another person once a day this world would be such a happier and brighter place. When I read the news all I see is pain, hurt and tragedy- it has always affected me, but now since becoming a first time mom I feel even more sensitive to everything. I wish we could all try to be more open in accepting and supporting one another. So happy to come across this post today which shows me there are still people in this world who love and care.

  11. Crystal gard says:

    We definaelty need more kindness in the world.

  12. Meg Root says:

    I’m with you. I’m feeling like the ONLY way to stay sane is to live in a kind of personal zone of hope and kindness. It seems like it’s all we have control over these days—our own outlook and approach to life. It’s nice to read positive encouragement like this. Always helpful.

  13. Elizabeth O. says:

    Kindness is like a chain reaction, do something for somebody and they will pay it forward, at least that’s how we want it to happen. I definitely agree with you on this one, if only people were kinder to each other, the world will be a better place!

  14. Jennifer says:

    I love random acts of kindness. Someone did one for my husband while he had his chocolate shop so he resolved that he would do something for the next person who walked into the door. That person wanted a chocolate tray and he gave it to him for free, when the customer protested my husband told him to pay it forward. The customer said he intended to as the tray was meant as his donation to an event for family members of the Newtown shooting. Pay it forward, you don’t always get teary moments like that, but sometimes, your moment of kindness has a deeper meaning than you expect or it just might be the only kindness that person receives that week.

  15. Cassandra says:

    Very thought provoking! These last few months I’ve been trying to do more. It’s become a lot more important to me now that I have kids. I don’t want to just tell them to give back—I want them to see it in action.

  16. Lisa Rios says:

    Life is all about hope & I agree we need more kindness in the world to survive. One simple act of kindness could make smiles in to someone’s life & that can impress anyone else to do similar help as well. Thanks for inspiring.

  17. I started a new series today and the first post is on Hope as well. It is something that is missing in many hearts and the more we can help to reignite it the better!

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