Honoring People that Live with Kindness in their Hearts
Caring Heart Awards
How Generous Are You?
When you hear the word “generous,” what comes to mind? Many people think of the millionaire benefactor giving millions for a new wing at the hospital. When I hear such stories, I think how wonderful it is that the benefactor has learned that giving money is a source of happiness as well as a source of helpfulness to the community. The problem with this "millionaire-generous-thinking" paradigm is that it works for only one percent of the population. Most of us will never be in a position to give millions away. We may think, "If we had extra millions to give away, we would do the same." However, you don't need millions to be a generous person. You can be retired on a fixed budget, like my friend Paulette, who is one of the most generous people I know. She always thinks about the needs of others and how she can give of herself to help, be it with her time, her heart, or her funds. Her brain is wired for compassion. Paulette is generous with her time. She drove an hour in Friday night traffic for two years to give free painting lessons to a teenager from a broken home. The painting lessons were a vehicle to help the teenager get over her shyness. The painting gave her a voice, but Paulette was also a sympathetic outlet for her to become more. It was first time the teenager had gotten praise of any kind. Paulette has compassion not only for kids but for the elderly too. I so appreciate her time in visiting with my mom. Paulette gives her heart freely. When she sees a homeless person, she would be the one giving them a hug, as well as, money or food. Paulette also receives great happiness from giving material things to her friends, family and strangers. She spends more on others than herself. She always thinks of objects as a way [...]
Do You Have Time to Be Kind?
My Aunt Carolyn is very special to me. She endeared my heart when she was engaged to my uncle. I was six, when she introduced me to my first movie. It was 1957, and the movie was the third release of Bambi. My parents rarely went to the movies, so this was an extra special treat. I was also a flower girl in their wedding, another special time I will always cherish. I just loved that Carolyn became part of the family. She dressed so fashionable and was also so kind to me. My Aunt and Uncle took over my grandpa's farm of 160 acres, a large herd of registered Guernsey dairy cows, and thriving farm market known for their quality produce, in particular, sweet corn and apples. My aunt seems to have unlimited energy. She helped with the milking of the cows twice every day. Cows need to be milked every 12 hours, so there was no taking off when you were sick or tired. She cleaned her large farm house, cooked three meals a day, helped with the field work, especially their large produce garden that supplied their roadside stand and the food for their use, and she loved working in her flower garden. She worked the roadside stand from sweet corn season to pumpkin time. They later constructed a building to house the farm market which was open from March through December. Being a farmer's wife is a never-ending job. She also raised four children and found time to read them stories before their naps. I remember when she was in labor with her fourth child, she refused to go to the hospital until she finished mowing their large yard and washing the kitchen floor. Carolyn works so hard, it makes me tired just thinking about it, but I never once heard my Aunt complain about not having time. She always talked and still talks today about her [...]
Where Does Your Beauty Lie?
What does beauty mean? External beauty is defined by the social norms of the era. In Victorian times, the paler the complexion, the more beautiful you were considered. The use of lead-based face paint was common to achieve that pale, sickly look thought to be beautiful. A horrifying thought to us. Even in the early 1900's, women would cover up and shade themselves from the sun. Having a tan meant you were a field laborer. During the late Middle Ages, a protruding stomach was coveted. The wealthy would weigh their guest when they arrived and when they left to ensure that there was a weight gain during their overnight stay. Overweight meant opulence and beauty. These examples demonstrate how external beauty is defined by ever changing societal rules while kindness never changes and always defines inner beauty. By today's standards, my friend Sue is beautiful. She rocks 70. Sue is one of those people who if you didn't see her for twenty years, you would instantly know her on a crowded street because she looks the same. Her beauty is timeless. However, what really makes Sue so special is that she has an inward beauty. Her beauty is projected from the inside of her soul and that is why I love her. She truly is a shining star, as her sister said when she toasted Sue at her birthday party. Sue was one of nine children. Luckily, her father was a butcher, so the family never was hungry, but there were times when Sue's dresses were tattered and worn. She learned what it was like to be looked down upon and to be bullied at school just because her family did not have the money for new clothes. Today, Sue loves spreading kindness, she talks to everyone and never wants anyone to feel like she did those days so long ago. Her father always said, "He was rich in [...]
First “Caring Heart Award” Honors Nurses
Welcome to week two of my kindness blog! This blog is dedicated to making the world a kinder place, one person at a time. One of the ways I am promoting kindness is by recognizing unsung heroes, those that live with kindness in their hearts everyday. Today, I am honoring nurses. They are often overlooked for the difficult job they do day in and day out. Nurses that care for their patients with their heart are truly a gift. There is no better way to start the Caring Heart award than honoring nurses and, in particular, my beautiful daughter, Becky. Becky wanted to be a pediatric nurse from an early age. She has such a caring heart as exemplified by her role in a medical mission to Burkina Faso, Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world, even though she had to give up her vacations for a year. Of course as Becky's mom, I am proud of my daughter, so I asked one of her peers to give me examples of her kindness. This is what Roshini wrote: "Becky is one the most caring nurses I know. I've seen her in action. As nurses, we make a commitment to care for others. We leave our families, sometimes during very hard times, in order to provide that care. Becky's kindness towards others and her patients radiates at work. Her selfless actions are never overlooked. She ensures that the needs of all of her patients are met. Becky treats all of her patients as if they were her own family. Being in the location we work in, we unfortunately see a lot of kids who come in with a low socioeconomic status and have little to no family. Becky really makes it a point to ensure that her kids never lack the feeling of nurturing. Not only is Becky kind, caring, and committed to her patients, but she treats [...]