Kindness & Compassion

Whether one believes in a religion or not, 

and whether one believes in rebirth or not,

there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate 

kindness and compassion.

Dalai Lama

Thoughts from Buddha

Universal Truths

U is for Universe

  

 

Kindness

K is for Kindness

One of my favourite quotes is from the Dalai Lama:  

"Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible."

So, let's practice random acts of kindness.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Let someone in front of you in traffic
Smile at strangers
Hold the door open for people
Help your neighbours:  shovel snow, carry their groceries, bring in their trash cans or babysit
Offer your seat on the bus
Leave a few quarters at the laundromat or in a vending machine
Pick up trash
Share your umbrella
Buy a coworker a coffee

 

There are over 200 kindness ideas at the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

 

Please practice as often as you can.

Inspiration

I is for Inspiration

According to the opening lyrics of one of my favourite  Quartet songs "Inspiration doesn't simply appear, it must have a spark, a chance to come clear and light up into view."  So take a moment now to consider what inspires you:

Something beautiful?

Acting silly?

Activity?

Reconnecting with someone?

Trying something new?

Having a little alone time?

Breaking out of your routine?

For me, I find listening to music inspiring.   My all time personal favourite inspirational song is "I Got a Name" by Jim Croce

If that one doesn't do it for you, the Goal Setting College has compiled an awesome list of 40 inspirations songs - you might find one you like here.

Do whatever works for you.  Get inspired!

The Gifts of Giving

G is for Giving

Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.

Mother Teresa

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

Maya Angelou

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

Lao Tzu

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Life is given to us, we earn it by giving it.

Rabindranath Tagore

The Future is Now

"F" is for Future
 

“How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment 

to improve the world." 

Anne Frank (1929-1945)

With so much buzz about 2012 and the Mayan calendar, I can't help but think about our future and what it might look like.   I must admit, some days it's hard to be optimistic.  Political revolutions, austerity measures, oil wars, corporate bail outs, climate change, famine, peak oil, genetically modified food - so many things seem to be reaching their tipping point.   So what can one person do about any of this?  Lots!

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for 

good men to do nothing.”

Edmund Burke (1729-1797); Statesman, Author, Philosopher

5 things you can do to make a difference 

(from http://marinebio.org/oceans/conservation/local.asp) 

Try to keep things in perspective. Be mindful of the big problems, but focus on solving them through the things we can all do everyday to help reduce them.  Develop a positive outlook:

1. First, accept that you are only able to control your actions and responses to changing conditions around you.
   
2. Take responsibility for your actions in all things. It sounds simple but being accountable to yourself will help you make the necessary changes.
   
3. Stop to consider the consequences of your actions (if I choose to do this, what will be the result?).
   
4.  Lead by example! If you can change, then it just might inspire others.
   
5. Remember that one person can make a difference. Small accomplishments add up quicker then you might think. Remember, no matter what your economic standing, you can help save the environment and money at the same time. You the consumer drive the market; products are made because you buy them. If you buy products that are better for the environment it will become profitable for companies to respond to the demand for environmentally-friendly products. It really is that simple.
   
   If you choose only one product on which to flex your consumer muscle, please make it bottled water.  Watch the movie "Tapped" - it will boggle your mind!  At least spend a bit of time on the movie's website found here.   Thank you!
   

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, 

but still I can do something; 

and because I cannot do everything, 

I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

Edward Everett Hale

What one man is doing to prove small, individual actions have earthshaking potential: http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/paul-stamets-and-the-healing-power-of-mushrooms/

“...if anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will be the same again.”      William P. Young, The Shack

Dalai Lama Wisdom

D is for Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is one of the most inspiring people alive today.   This post is dedicated to his teachings.

"Be kind whenever possible.

It is always possible."

Read one of his messages on world peace here: A Human Approach to World Peace

"Non violence is the reflection of inner peace"  

Watch the Dalai Lama in action here:  His #1 Commitment

 

A Book Review for GBE2

Some of you may know that after a 20 year break I started riding a motorcycle again 3 years ago.  Last summer I got a new bike (picture here) and have really enjoyed being back on the road.   For Christmas my hubby gave me a book about woman and motorcycles written by a local author and motorcycle instructor Liz Jansen.

The book, Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment  is a collection of 50 stories of women and their motorcycling experiences interspersed with Liz's personal story of how she transitioned from a corporate career to running a motorcycle touring business.   The overall theme of the book is finding yourself through change and challenge.

As I started the book I found myself thinking that, other than riding a motorcycle, I really didn't have that much in common with these women.  But I kept reading.  I personally know a couple of the featured woman and was looking forward to their stories.   The more stories I read, the more I thought.  And the more I thought the more I realized that I too had overcome several barriers to be out there riding on the road.  Some of these barriers were self-imposed, others had been imposed upon me.  I felt my perceptions continue to shift as I read through chapters like "Dealing with the Unexpected", "Connecting with Spirit" and "Leading with your Heart".  

Eventually I realized the insight Liz and these ladies were sharing wasn't limited to motorcycling.  It could be applied to any type of challenge.   The timing of this book in my life was impeccable.  Some rather unwanted change was occurring and I needed to work through it.   The thoughts, ideas and inspiration I found in those pages really made a difference in how I reacted to that change.  Releasing my resistance and embracing a new direction has resulted in a more grounded, more expansive and more inclusive experience than could ever have been possible before.

I will admit this book is not going to win any literary awards .  But what it lacks in scholarly finesse it more than makes up for with spirit and intuition.

I'd like to share a passage from the book I found particularly inspiring:

"We are riding our own rides.  We've developed and honed our instinctual skills, connected with our wild nature and now embrace it.  We love who we are and embody empowerment and joyful and full living in all aspects of our life.  We are change agents and leaders, often in subtle, unplanned ways and without even being aware of it.  We're closer than ever to who we are.  We know our power is there and how to use it appropriately.  All we have to do is call on it."

Quotes to Consider

“If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.”  

Billy Joel

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”   Epictetus

 


Understand (life) by
seeing how the stone
has been hollowed out by rain.
Do not cling to the illusion 
that nothing changes.
Dr. Mikao Usui

“When we are no longer able to change a situation… we are challenged to change ourselves. Victor Frankl

“The wise stand out because they see themselves as part of the Whole. They shine because they don’t want to impress. They achieve great things because they don’t look for recognition. Their wisdom is contained in what they are, not their opinions. They refuse to argue, so no-one argues with them.” Lao Tzu

Notable Quotes

"Q" is for Quotes