If watching the news upsets you, natural disasters break your heart and social injustice gives you a visceral feeling of wrongness- you are not alone. Most of us feel that way. Most of us don’t know what to do, how to help or who to blame. I personally think that the overdose of media leaves us feeling completely defeated and helpless….. So most of us instead of doing anything we bitch about it.

So today I wanted to flip it. I wanted to create something you and I can do and it might not change the world but it can change our world and the world of those around us. It’s called kindness. We’ve all heard about it and to some extent practice it but today I want to invite you to take your kindness practice to the next level.

I remember a friend once told me when Trump got elected that she was going to have to “up her kindness game” and those words really struck me. Because as simple as it may seem kindness and compassion are something we train on in many levels- from the way we act towards ourselves, our loved ones, strangers, animals, people we dislike, the planet. My personal definition of kindness is acknowledging that we are all suffering, that we could all use a little more love and giving it out like candy on Halloween expecting nothing in return.

I’m going to the Shambhala Center to meditate and every time I walk through those doors I feel like crying. It touches my heart that a bunch of people get together to meditate on compassion. It gives me so much faith in humanity.

I told a friend about this after she shared a crime story from the news and she responded “Yeah, I guess your good energies help” in a subtle sarcastic tone and I’m a sarcastic myself I get how “being nice” might not lower the crime rate but imagine a criminal got a free coffee, random people smiled at him as he walked down the streets, somebody complimented him on his parking skills. The world would just be better. Because kindness opens up our hearts, it’s contagious and touches our basic human need for love and connection.

So wherever you are on your kindness journey here are 20 kind things you can do today. Some may resonate more than others but my goal is to inspire us to “up our kindness game”

1.       Compliments- If you want to get inspired watch Validation it’s a beautiful short film on how we can make each other feel good. 

2.       Drive pretending everybody around you is people you love, going to a party at your house.

3.       Play empathy Charades. This game is great for children and adults as well it teaches kids emotions and empathy which is the basis for kindness.

4.       Read children stories on kindness- My favorite is Have you filled your bucket today by Carol McCloud

5.       Go play with cats and dogs at the Animal Shelter. If you love animals you can also be a transition home in case you don’t want to adopt a pet.

6.       Donate clothes in good conditions to a worthy cause

7.       Pay for the parking toll or a coffee for the person behind you.

8.       Return your shopping cart and somebody else’s.

9.       Make eye contact when talking to people. Ask questions and just listen.  

10.   Bake something and share it with the neighbors.

11.   Knit or Crochet mitts, scarfs or hats- You can have them in your car and hand them out to homeless people or take them to the ICU for newborn babies.

12.   Use a travel mug for your morning coffee instead of the paper ones.

13.   Skip the straws and bring along your own plastic or glass straw.

14.   Skip the plastic bags and bring your own reusable bags.

15.   Reuse glass containers- You will never need to buy another thermos.

16.   Smile to strangers

17.   Volunteer in your community

18.   Feed the homeless

19.   Write inspirational notes and place them in cars (recycled paper gives you double points)

20.   Practice Metta Meditation- Loving Kindness by reciting the mantra

May I be safe
May I be healthy
May I be happy
May I be at ease
May I be filled with loving-kindness
May I be peaceful

Do this first towards yourself and then towards the world. Learn more about how to practice Metta meditation. 

Here are more resources on kindness

https://12kindsofkindness.com/

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/