Thank God Its Monday, again; and, as such, #HappyMonday to one and all! I personally look forward to every Monday. Among other things, they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you!
One of the celebrations happening on Thursday is National Love is Kind Day! Kindness is one of those super celebratory things that should be practiced and praised daily. By the way, Random Acts of Kindness Week is in February, plus World Kindness Week and World Kindness Day are both in November.
Mom often wrote about love and kindness in her books and newsletters – even earlier, in her syndicated columns. Both were very important to her, to Dad, to each of their parents, and so on. Mom and Dad were raised by and lived by “The Golden Rule”, which is a basic, moral principle for an evolving society that encourages us to treat others with kindness.
Mom was always promoting love and kindness, starting in the family and home; from where it could spread out into the neighborhood, town, and throughout the land. Love and kindness are natural tendencies but they also need to be nurtured, as well as learned and practiced through time and experience.
As I wrote about, in a previous blog post, Kindness Begets Kindness (Nov. 2020), a single act of kindness can multiply exponentially into more acts of kindness, as people tend to pay acts of kindness forward, thereby touching an infinite number of people. Love and kindness are powerful deeds.
BestDailyPrayer.org, says of “love is kind” – “It is polite to others, honest, and truthful. It does not like evil but stands for righteousness. It has faith in people, never considers others to be lost causes, and is ready to be patient with them and endure all hardships until they come round. It is the greatest command God gave to us, to love others.” (Aug 3, 2022)
Likewise, InspireKindness.com’s blog, Kindness – 101, says, “It’s being selfless, caring, compassionate, and unconditionally kind. Like love, it takes practice to understand and feel it. We share love with others through kind acts such as a smile, a nice word, an unexpected deed, or a planned surprise.” (Date unknown.)
From songs to movies to soap opera titles, we’ve heard how “love is a many-splendored thing”. Even The Beatles sang, “love is all you need”. In fact, love is many things, as the famously known passage from I Corinthians 13 indicates: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
MentalHealth.org.uk’s Kindness Matters Guide says, “acts of kindness can make the world a happier place for everyone. They can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism… encourage others to repeat the good deeds they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.”
Qualities of kindness include considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others; showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity. Kindness is treating others as you would like to be treated. A kind person shows concern for the feelings of others. Kindness also contributes to an overall feeling of goodwill and positivity.
FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 30)
MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY
HAVE YOU EVER HAD your day suddenly turn sunshiny because of a cheerful word? Have you ever wondered if this could be the same world because someone had been unexpectedly kind to you. You can make today [that way] for somebody! It’s only a question of a little imagination, a little time and trouble. Think now, ‘What can I do today, to make someone happy?’
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said?
Does the one whose hopes were fading, now with courage, look ahead?
Do you waste the day or lose it? Was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber, do you think that God will say,
‘You have earned one more tomorrow, by the work you did today.’?
#MakeKindnessTheNorm
‘Happy is the person who has a good supply of the milk of human kindness and knows how to keep it from souring.’ – Gloria Pitzer, This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 17)
Kindness helps others feel valued. Showing even the smallest amount of kindness can go a long way. According to Aesop (an ancient Greek fables author), “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” Many people believe that kindness has the potential to change the whole world. Its contagiousness often sets off a pay-it-forward ripple effect.
Being kind is known to change lives – not only of the receivers, but also of the givers. Kindness is also commonly known to have physical and mental health benefits. It’s an essential part of an evolving society that bridges the divides of race, religion, gender, and other such things.
Science has proven that there are many health benefits to being kind and receiving kindness. Many psychiatrists agree that a healthy benefit of kindness includes empowering our personal energy and self-esteem. It makes us happier, which is good for our hearts. As such, kindness helps us live longer. See RandomActsOfKindness.org for more information.
MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 24)
DOING SOMETHING NICE
WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, do better. Just because you are not doing wrong doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing right. Remember the importance of setting a good example. The things we do each day influences others.
Good intentions become stumbling blocks to real accomplishments when you constantly fail to act upon your hunches or fail to tackle things you wish to do. Don’t expect the world to think you’re wonderful just because you do something ‘good’ – for someone else!
Good people do good things all of the time – everyday, and no one pats them on the back for it. You have to do good – not for what others are going to think of you, but what you’re going to think of yourself!
If you get a kick out of doing something good for somebody… do it! But don’t expect any rewards or special recognition for having gone out of your way. Every once in a while you may be complimented for something good that you’ve done, and that’s very nice.
But most of the time, whatever you do is to make yourself feel better about what has to be done, or what should be done! It’s not a matter of conscience, but of compassion. Either you have it, or you don’t!
HAVE YOU EVER had your day suddenly turn sunshiny because of a cheerful word? Have you ever wondered if this could be the same world because someone had been unexpectedly kind to you. You can make today [that way] for somebody! It’s only a question of a little imagination, a little time and trouble. Think now, ‘What can I do today, to make someone happy?’ – Gloria Pitzer, This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 30)
I can’t say it enough – love and kindness should be practiced every day! After all, we’ve been taught this since we were toddlers. It’s a shame that the unpretentious acts of love and kindness are forgotten by so many as they grow older. If a young child can understand the value of love and kindness – why can’t we all?
According to Wikipedia’s interpretation of Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, it “explains how the world would be improved if adults adhered to the same basic rules as children, i.e. sharing, being kind to one another, cleaning up after themselves, and living ‘a balanced life’ of work, play, and learning.”
LAST THOUGHTS…
Giving the best of ourselves should be done without expectations of reciprocations of gratitude! It is through acts of kindness and giving from our hearts that we receive our own true gift – one that can’t be bought or even priced – the gift of love. Remember, love is kind and kindness is love!
SUNSHINE IN THE morning, moonlight at night, the fragrance of gardens, the deep silence of harvest fields, [and] the musical rattle of tea cups bring us rays of warmth, flooding through the open windows of the mind. The laughter of happy children, the familiar tread of love [from] approaching feet, a beautiful thought, a pleasant dream, a letter, a kindly greeting, a worthwhile job to do, a joke, a song, a kindness received (and remembered) – these are things which cost us nothing but enrich us beyond all telling! – Gloria Pitzer, This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 41)
IN CLOSING…
In honor of TODAY, being National Drive-Thru Day, plus it’s National Ice Cream Month, here’s Mom’s copycat recipe for Wednesday’s Frosted Drink; as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 265). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)].
P.S. Food-for-thought until we meet again, next Monday…
July’s observances include: World Watercolor Month, National Baked Bean Month, National Culinary Arts Month, National Grilling Month, National Horseradish Month, National Hot Dog Month, Independent Retailer Month, National Blueberry Month, National Picnic Month, and National Peach Month!
Today is also… National Tequila Day, National Cousins Day, and National Amelia Earhart Day!
Tomorrow is… National Merry-Go-Round Day, National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, National Threading the Needle Day, and National Wine and Cheese Day! Plus, it’s also… Christmas In July!
Wednesday, July 26th, is… National Aunt and Uncle’s Day, National Bagelfest Day, National Coffee Milkshake Day, and National All or Nothing Day!
July 27th is… National Scotch Day, National Crème Brûlée Day, and National New Jersey Day! Plus, as the fourth Thursday in July (for 2023), it’s also… National Refreshment Day! Additionally, as the last Thursday in July (for 2023), it’s also… National Chili Dog Day!
Friday, July 28th, is… National Milk Chocolate Day, Buffalo Soldiers Day, and National Waterpark Day!
Saturday, July 29th, is… National Lasagna Day, National Lipstick Day, and National Chicken Wing Day!
Sunday, July 30th, is… National Cheesecake Day and National Father-in-Law Day!
…30 down and 22 to go!
