The Simplicity of Kindness

Kindness is the simplest thing in the world, yet there is far less kindness in the world than I would like -- even in my own actions and behavior.

I recently embarked on a journey to do a random act of kindness each day for 40 days. My goal was to do something kind that I wouldn't normally do, even if it was something very small. At first it was quite difficult. I would find myself getting ready for bed and looking around for something I could do at the last minute, because during the day I hadn't noticed any opportunities. One night I folded a blanket. Another night I cleaned up a hairball. As the days have progressed, however, I'm finding that the hard part is picking one of the many things I've done as "the" random act of kindness for the day.

We tend to find what we are looking for, and if we're wanting to perform acts of kindness we will see opportunities everywhere. It's simply a question of reprogramming the mind.

Some needs are obvious. Some are less so, but there is an inner wisdom we can all access that will help us find even hidden opportunities to serve. We just need to be actively wanting and looking for those opportunities.

Small acts of kindness can add up to big changes over time -- not just for those whom I serve, but for me as well. Actively working to be kind to others cleanses my soul and purifies my heart in a way that few other things can. I'm far from perfect, but when I serve others I get to experience perfect joy.