Thank you to Orajel™ for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone.
Each day, each moment, we have choices. We have choices about how we choose to live our life. How we choose to react to situations. How we choose to interact with others. It’s a fitting week for us all to remember that includes kindness. We can choose to be kind and show love.
Yesterday morning was unsettling in so many ways. Most of all, breaking the news to our 7 year old son. He’s old enough to recognize the simple differences of good versus bad. As I struggled with how to parent at a time like this, I fell back on something so simple and basic – kindness and love. These are gifts we can choose to give daily to those around us. Gifts that can change the world for the better. I truly believe this.
“Show respect to people who don’t even deserve it; not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours.” – Dave Willis
As I sent him off to school, I gave him a hug and reminded him to show love to all. He has classmates of all shapes, sizes, colors, abilities. They are all special and all deserve his love and respect.
During the school hours as I spent time with my daughter, I reflected on these things. Kindness. Love. Respect. How best can I teach my children? Certainly by setting an example and by taking action. I pulled out our craft supplies and let her watercolor while I started drawing images for us to color for “kindness cards.” My simple idea was to create something we could share knowingly or unknowingly with friends & strangers that would brighten their day.
When I shared the idea with my son last night, he like it so much he asked me for a blank sheet to draw his own. Never to be left out, his sister was quick to join in the fun as well. My heart felt lighter and happier watching them. Kids truly do know and embrace a natural kindness we all should emulate.
World Kindness Day is this Sunday. If you’d like, print a copy of our cards to color and share.
Looking for other ways to show kindness? Here are a few suggestions:
- Hold the door open.
- Tell someone that you love them and/or share with them something you like about them.
- Listen to a friend or neighbor in need. Often we don’t “hear” the suffering of others because we simply don’t truly listen and pay attention.
- Visit the local fire or police department and thank them.
- Paint and hide “kindness stones” for others to find.
- Pay for the coffee order for the person behind you in the drive thru line.
- Leave an uplifting note.
- Drop a quarter in a parking meter that’s close to expiration.
- Write a thank you note to a veteran.
- Tip your waiter or waitress a little extra regardless of the job they did. Sometimes we all have a bad day and this might be the lift they need.
- Strike up a conversation with the parent sitting alone on a bench at a park. We all need friends.
- Donate time to a local shelter – homeless, pet, etc.
And, of course, one of the easiest forms of kindness – your smile! Never underestimate how simply acknowledging another person and genuinely smiling at them can have a powerful effect on their day.
Get tips from Orajel on how to help maintain a healthy smile that you can share for years to come.
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
World Kindness Day is observed annually on November 13th. How will you spread kindness this year?
I’m excited to be a part of the Orajel™ Smilehood Community for 2016 and share tips & products that can help our kids achieve healthy teeth. Healthy teeth go beyond just a pretty smile – they can improve your overall health. Take a look at my past posts for Keys to Teaching Your Kids Healthy Teeth Habits, Tips for Brushing Your Toddler’s Teeth, Travel with Kids – Don’t Forget the Toothbrush!, and School Photos: Putting Your Best Smile Forward.
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