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Do you think you're a kind person?

2/23/2015

6 Comments

 
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A recent study found that although 94 per cent of us claim we are giving people, one in six of us do not know our neighbor’s name. Isn't that the most important Christian teachings? Love thy neighbor.

And a quarter of the people in the UK survey taken by the Home Heat Helpline confess to never performing a random act of kindness.

Now, this is open to interpretation. A random act of kindness could be smiling at a crying baby to distract him in a supermarket so the mother can attend to her business. I'm sure you'll come up with the things you do.

The most common was letting someone go ahead of us in a queue, which 51 per cent say they have done. Next most popular was checking in on a loved one, followed by asking after the health of a neighbor, looking after a pet, or garden, or taking a delivery for a neighbor.

More than a quarter said they would not trust a neighbor to look after their home while away, while only 22 per cent said they had ever given up their seat on public transport for someone who is pregnant or elderly.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, almost half those questioned said they did not feel part of a community, while 35 per cent admitted not giving anything back to their local area. 

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Here are some suggestions:

Smile at someone on the street, just because.

Let another driver into your lane. They’re probably in a rush just like you.

Forgive someone, and never bring up the issue again.

Talk to the shy person who’s sitting by themselves at a party.

Leave your newspaper behind for someone else to read.

Let the person behind you at the supermarket checkout with one or two items go ahead of you.

Right. I'm just trying to think of some way I've shown kindness recently. Ummm. Ohhh. I hardly see anyone. Those I pass on the street while I'm taking my rollator for a daily walk are in a hurry, jogging uphill or rushing to collect their child from school. A greeting and a smile is all they have time for.

But what do I do? My husband—I see him all day. Well, not first thing in the morning, but that gives me hours of private time to write this blog. Am I really kind to him? When he asks me to repeat what I've said, do I show patience? No, I do not. He's often mentioned my sharp manner. He's the patient one with me, explaining every time how he can't hear my soft voice.

Room for improvement, I'd say.

Can you remember the last time you were kind?


6 Comments
Toy link
2/22/2015 09:42:33 pm

I enjoyed your article. This is definitely work self-examination to explore whether we are being kind out of obligation or from the goodness of our hearts. Thanks for sharing!

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Mary Burris link
2/22/2015 10:13:47 pm

Great reminder for everyone to take a little time and show some kindness.

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Shilpa Garg link
2/22/2015 10:19:06 pm

The findings of the survey you mentioned are shocking and disturbing too! It doesn’t take much to reach out and lift people up or do small acts of kindness. The examples you mentioned howsoever small, do make a difference in lives of people around us.

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Sojourner link
2/22/2015 11:10:48 pm

Ooh, thought provoking. I live in New York City and, I know the three other families that live in my building, but my neighbors, in the buildings next to me???? I have no idea. We smile at each other and nod hello when we pass, but I don't know their names. I have engaged in random acts of kindness though. I can check that one off- phew!

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Michelle Liew link
2/22/2015 11:48:31 pm

It's sad, but not shocking, that most people never do something just because it's the right thing to do.

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Debbie D. link
2/23/2015 02:45:06 pm

I think we all have room for improvement, some days. I work from home and don't have that much occasion to interact with others either, but just yesterday, I visited a friend with a broken leg, exercised her dog and made her lunch. :) After 41 years of marriage, my husband and I tend to be snippy with each other on a regular basis, but then we laugh about it. It's somewhat of a comedy routine.

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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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