10 Ways to Practice Kindness

Yesterday, I wrote about 7 Reasons to Practice Kindness. Here are 10 ways:

  1. Smile at someone.
  2. Listen.
  3. Think about what you want more than anything, and offer it to someone else.
  4. Volunteer your time.
  5. Focus on others’ strengths and offer compliments and kind words.
  6. Practice patience by allowing someone else get in front of you in a checkout line or in traffic.
  7. When shoveling snow or raking leaves or doing some other yard cleanup, include part of your neighbor’s yard in your work. It’s good exercise, too.
  8. Clean out your basement, attic, closets, storage and/or garage and find valuable things you have not used for a while and give them away.
  9. Give a gift to someone you love when it is not a holiday or birthday.
  10. Give an anonymous gift and revel in the fact that no one knows why you’re smiling.

2 responses to “10 Ways to Practice Kindness”

  1. S.S.M. Avatar
    S.S.M.

    These are great ideas! I’m going to step out of selflessness for a moment (pre-new years resolution) and ask you for advice. If you’re willing to share any, I’d be very grateful. If not, I am still grateful that you’ve read this. My problem is I have a very hard time doing numbers 1 and 9 when it comes to my parents. I just can’t bring myself to do it! I’m certain it’s rooted in some deep psychological crisis or maladjustment, but if you have any suggestions for at least helping me smile around my parents, again, I would be grateful.

    Thank you, be well.
    S.S.M.

  2. Shirley Avatar

    #3 is a great one! I’ve only done that once or twice, but if you want to feel good all day, give the gift you want to someone else. :0)