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.
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.
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?
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?
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