Transform your day

I remember being very affected when I learned that the Dalai Lama had said, "My religion is kindness." What would happen if we could all say that? How different the world would be! We can all begin right now to practice such a principle - no matter what. Just start your day and say to yourself, "I will be kind today." Then do it. Here's an excerpt from an article entitled "An Unconditional Gift" that speaks to this:

The components of kindness are compassion, respect, and generosity. Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether those individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person's entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet-even those who make you feel like frowning-can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed said act as well as on the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.

I like the point that we don't need to have our acts of kindness acknowledged for them to make a difference in someone's life. I take great consolation in knowing that every act of kindness on my part contributes to the sum of kindness in the world and that, ultimately, all humanity benefits.