Thank God it’s Monday, again. I always look forward to Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you. Therefore, happy Monday, to everyone.
It’s that time of year, again. Random Acts of Kindness Week began yesterday. Plus, next Monday is National Random Acts of Kindness Day, too. Being kind is another one of those things that should be expressed daily – all day and every day.
Kindness is so important to our civilization that many groups have formed specifically to encourage it more and make it the “new norm”. Mom always promoted the “Golden Rule” and being kind to others, as well as being kind to yourself, in everything she wrote.
“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)
RandomActsOfKindness.org promotes making selfless acts of kindness “the norm”. They offer a lot of factual information and motivational stories about being kind, examples of kindness, and other inspirations. They also provide positive, scientific health facts linked to kindness. Check out this wonderful website.
Kindness is known to energizes us through giving it as well as receiving it. Heart health and blood pressure also improve with giving and/or receiving acts of kindness, which also helps us live longer. It also makes us happy, which is good for our mental health and empowers self-esteem.
In so many ways, Mom and Dad, both, set good examples for me to follow. I’m proud that my ancestors, on both sides, were good and kind people. I’m the same way, providing good examples for my children to follow and that they will likewise continue, hopefully making kindness the new norm.
It hardly takes any effort or time, nor does it cost anything to be kind to someone, which can make a big difference in people’s lives. Smile, nod, say “hello”, give a compliment, hold a door for someone, let someone get in line ahead of you, say “thank you” or “I appreciate you”.
“I’m hard-put to come up with that one event, that singular moment when I knew that our Secret RecipesTM would touch other people; not just across the country but across the world. And, in doing so, would make a difference. That’s what really counts – doing something that will make a difference for the good of others.” – Gloria Pitzer, My Cup Runneth Over and I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989).
You can also tell a joke to make someone laugh, be a good listener to someone who needs to talk, help your neighbors, volunteer your time, and – most importantly – be kind to yourself, too. Acts of kindness can be physical support, emotional support, or mental support.
According to SSMHealth.com, the three core qualities of kindness are “being considerate, helpful, and thoughtful… People who have these qualities improve the lives of those around them and, in general, enjoy better health due to the biological changes that occur while being kind.”
FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
My Cup Runneth Over and I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 61)
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF GOOD
Whenever our best intentions are carried out for the good of all concerned, only good can result. How could good possibly produce something bad? It’s often just the still small voice of wisdom that turns us in the right direction.
When it does, how silly it is of us to give credit to coincidence or chance. The purpose of something good is, of course, to bless, to enrich and to comfort and why, then, does even knowing this makes so many folks feel uncomfortable?
Having more doesn’t necessarily make us better-off, and most people limit their definition of good to an increase in more THINGS. Sometimes the good is not material, nor the least bit tangible, but instead is a feeling – a comforting and reassuring confidence – that, yes, everything can be all right, after all!
Kindness helps others feel valued, among so many other wonderful things. Showing even the smallest amount of kindness can go a long way. Kindness, like happiness, is contagious, effecting the giver and receiver, in a positive manner. It also has a ripple effect for those with whom they come in contact, to the “nth” degree.
Many believe that acts of kindness have the potential to change lives world-wide – in more ways than one. The simple act of being kind is an essential part of an evolved and growing community and society that bridges divides like race, religion, gender, and even politics.
Additionally, like happiness, acts of kindness provide many positive physical and mental health benefits. The Science Of Kindness claims, it… “Fuels personal energy and self-esteem… Makes you happier… [Is] good for your heart… [And] helps you live longer…”
Most of us grew up, learning the “Golden Rule”, which is an old proverb to “do onto others, as you would have them do onto you.” In other words, simply, treat others as you would like to be treated. Mom used to say, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Now, I wonder, is that why they say, “silence is golden”?
In general, most of us learned in day care and pre-school and on all the children’s programs we watched as toddlers to be kind to each other, among other things. It was also reiterated throughout our initial school years and, for the most part, in our households. Yet, why have so many kids and adults, alike, stopped being kind to each other?
What makes someone turn, from being kind, into a bully? Some excuse it, as just being temporary, a part of childhood. However, if not stopped and corrected, it can become a part of life into adulthood, too.
Since the mid-1970s, childhood misbehavior has increasingly included bullying. While not as commonplace as during the adolescent age, recent decades have shown it continuing to manifest well into adulthood.
Statistically, per the Monique Burr Foundation, one in four students are bullied in school and one in three are cyberbullied. Bullying starts as early as pre-school and, if not stopped, can get more intense as the bully ages – even into adulthood. It can happen anywhere groups meet – daycares, schools, camps, workplaces, and so on.
According to Wikipedia’s interpretation of All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, Fulghum “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.”
MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipe Report (Secret Recipe Report, St. Clair, MI; Issue 85, February 1981; p. 3)
REAL GOODNESS
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN impressed by someone who seems to be constantly cheerful… Wondering how they manage such pleasant expressions in the face of so many problems in the world and in personal experiences? It’s no secret!
Being constantly cheerful is a reflection of love – not the result of having used all of the right products. It’s an attitude that insists the world is full of many unrecognized blessings and wonderful people in spite of – not because of – newspaper headlines and television lead stories to the contrary.
Perhaps the most unique and most genuine commercial appeal and advertising circuit today, using the love being, is one commercial that doesn’t even use the word itself – yet it’s message makes you immediately aware of the feeling of love when it sings of ‘when the whole world gets together’.
Good thinking! Not impossible. Just presently inconvenient, considering that we never have any trouble loving the people across the world. It’s that miserable guy across the street who gives us all the trouble or someone within our own circle of relatives that we can’t relate to.
Victims of the natural tragedies of the world we can love and rushed to help. It doesn’t require involvement personally. And that is what is wrong with using the word LOVE today! We can say it. We can declare it and insist that yes, we do, indeed, love others.
The real proof, though is not in the telling – but in the doing! What have you done lately for somebody you really claim to love? Do something today!
LAST THOUGHTS…
As I’ve previously done for this week’s celebration of Be Kind to Humankind Week, I want to pass along this timeless 7-day kindness challenge for you to do. It’s from an article on StarTribune.com, called Why Being Kind Makes You Healthier, by Chrystle Fiedler (July 24, 2019):
“Try the seven-day kindness challenge: That means, do at least one act of kindness every day for seven days. Ground rules: Do something different each day; push yourself out of your comfort zone at least once and be sure one of your acts of kindness is anonymous – no one should ever find out who did it.”
Thanks for visiting! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my memories of my mom, her memories, and other related things. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email protected]. You can also find me on Facebook: @TheRecipeDetective.
IN CLOSING…
In honor of this week, being the national Great American Pizza Bake, here’s Mom’s copycat recipe for “Pizza Logs” [Pizza Subs Like Captain 2’s (Algonac, MI)]; as seen in her self-published cookbook, Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Fast Food Recipes – Reprint (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; March 1985, p. 111). As always, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to re-share it.
P.S. Food-for-thought until next Monday…
February observes… National Fasting February, An Affair to Remember Month, Black History Month, National Canned Food Month, National Creative Romance Month, National Great American Pies Month, National Bake for Family Fun Month, National Cherry Month, National Grapefruit Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, National Library Lover’s Month, National Snack Food Month, and National Weddings Month – among other things.
The second week of February (9th-15th for 2025) observes… National Kraut and Frankfurter Week, Freelance Writers Appreciation Week, National Secondhand Wardrobe Week, National Jell-O Week, Take Your Family to School Week, and the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden – which is always the week of Valentine’s Day.
Today is also… National Cream Cheese Brownie Day and National Umbrella Day. Plus, as the second Monday in February (2025), it’s also… National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Additionally, for 2025, it’s also… National Football Hangover Day (which is always the day after “The Big Game”).
Tomorrow is… National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day, National Peppermint Patty Day, National Make a Friend Day, and National Inventors’ Day.
CHEERS TO THE INVENTOR OF COPYCAT COOKERY: GLORIA PITZER!
Wednesday, February 12th, is… National Plum Pudding Day.
February 13th is… National Cheddar Day and National Tortellini Day. Plus, as the second Thursday in February (2025), it’s also National Giving Hearts Day.
February 14th is… National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day, National Ferris Wheel Day, National Organ Donor Day, and Valentine’s Day. Plus (for 2025), it’s also… National Great Backyard Bird Count, which always begins on Friday, during the week/weekend of Valentine’s Day; AND it’s… National Bird Feeding Month, too.
Saturday, February 15th, is… National Gumdrop Day and National Wisconsin Day.
Sunday, February 16th, is… National Almond Day. Plus, as the start of February’s third week (for 2025), it’s also… Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week, which “encourages people of diverse faiths to discuss not only our differences but to recognize how we are all the same—uniting in our human brotherhood and sisterhood.”
Have a great week!
…6 down and 46 to go!
