“Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Ghandi once said. So how can you, a single person in this big world, make a difference? Performing random of kindness, of course! Acts of kindness bring out the good in everyone, make others happier, and encourage us all to be kind, even in the smallest of ways. By demonstrating random acts of kindness, we can make the world a better place. Random acts of kindness can bring out the best in everyone by showing there is true goodness in every person. In 1944, polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman was hiding from Nazi soldiers when he was discovered by German officer Captain Wilm Hosenfeld. Szpilman expected to be turned in, but instead, the officer helped him hide by bringing him food and protecting him from capture. This surprising act of kindness …show more content…
Acts of kindness also make others happier. A simple act of kindness can make someone’s day, like in the book Out of my Mind, by Sharon M. Draper. This book tells the story of a girl named Melody with cerebal palsy. Many of the students in her class make fun of her, but a “popular” girl named Rose makes an effort to include her and be nice to her. Later on, Melody talks about how happy that simple act of kindness made her. Not only are these little acts of kindness great ways to make someone smile, but they also encourage us to be kinder, even through small actions. Seeing others perform acts of kindness encourages us to pay it forward and spread the kindness. When I was in 6th grade, my teacher, Mrs. Bockart, encouraged us to spread happiness through random acts of kindness. In her room, the was a heart shape on the wall that was meant to be filled with notecards that had our acts of kindness written on them. At first, there were only a few notecards
In Barry H. Corey’s book, Love Kindness, the underestimated, devalued virtue of kindness is explored. Kindness is a powerful, gentle strength that is often underestimated and devalued. Living a life of kindness is not for the meek or the prideful for this is a humbling, bold, and whimsical way of being. Love and kindness are difficult to separate because kindness is a result of love in its most authentic state. Love and kindness are the keys to moments of vulnerability. In that moment of authentic love and kindness barriers are demolished and people are reached in their brokenness.
In a short story called, “Thank you ma’am”, the author is trying to convey the theme, or message, of the importance of showing random acts of kindness towards others to help institute change. Mrs.J show one act of kindness when she washes his face. Another when she makes Roger food at her house. Mrs.J is kind and shows multiple examples throughout the story.
Human beings are subjected to living in a world filled with chaos, hate, war, inequality, and genocide, which makes exhibiting sheer goodness a challenge. Often times, individuals confused being “good” with following an established list of rules. However, there are times when goodness, or even ethical and moral behavior goes beyond following a rigid set of regulations as we recognize that certain demands are amoral. The genocidal extermination of millions of Jews orchestrated by Adolf Hitler at the time of Nazi occupation during World War II transformed Europe into a dark place. However, with many tragedies, there are often glimpses of goodness that shine through. The village of Le Chambon was an illumination. A primarily Protestant village in southern France, Le Chambon became a safe haven for Jews fleeing Nazi rule. The people of this nurturing, mountain-town community were true heroes as they banded together to take Jewish refugees into their homes, forge ID and ration cards and help them escape to safety. The actions of the Chambonnais during the Holocaust may have arguably been one of the most significant, modest acts of resistance. In order to gauge our understanding of this tight knit community, often times, one sits back and questions, why Le Chambon? Why was this place different from the rest of Europe who didn’t take action to help the Jews in a time of need? Why did goodness happen THERE? Unfortunately, there is not a black and white answer. However, through the history of both the village and its inhabitants permeating in their minds, the community has been shaped into virtuous village full of goodness. They have been driven to act ethically despite possible repercussions, which has set them apart from similar communit...
Everyday one may see dozens of small acts of compassion. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a compelling story set in Germany during the Second World War; a difficult time for compassion. The story follows a foster family living in Molching, Germany and their acts, big and small, against the Nazi regime. In The Book Thief, Hans Hubermann exemplifies the inherent compassion of humans. This can be seen through Hans’ act of offering to black out the windows of families for little or no payment, giving bread to a starving jew, and teaching Liesel how to read. All acts indicating his dedication to aid those stricken by misfortune.
Ervin Staub, a holocaust survivor from Hungary and a scholar on altruistic behavior, has written, "Goodness like evil often begins in small steps. Heroes evolve; they aren't born. Very often the rescuers make only a small commitment at the start, to hide someone for a day or two. But once they have taken that step, they begin to see themselves differently, as someone who helps. What starts as mere willingness becomes intense involvement.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see” – Mark Twain.
Kindness can really make a difference in a person's attitude. In “A Christmas Carol”, the Cratchits and Scrooge's nephew Fred show kindness to Scrooge, even though Scrooge showed quite the opposite to them. Or in “Thank you M’am”, when Ms. Jones makes Roger food and gives him money to buy his shoes, instead of reporting him to the police. Even in “Little Things Are Big”, when Jesus decides to help people even if he has to face prejudism. These stories all show turning points, and these examples show
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn life around.” Says Leo Buscaglia; a teacher of special education at the University of Southern California.
Strassmair (2009) also showed that the people who benefit fully from the perceived kindness or the costly action of others does not spoil the benefit for them or induce any negative emotion such as guilt. This kindness received from others is also given great significance by the receiver of the kind act (Macdonald, Liben, Carnevale, Rennick, Wolf, Meloche, & Cohen, 2005).
It could be as small as opening the door for someone who is not able to. It could be as huge as taking months of preparation and fundraising. We should all have compassion in our heart, understand another’s feelings or emotions. When I was shopping the other day, I saw a young lady helping an old man in a wheelchair to grab cereals from a shelf. She would gently describe all the boxes on the shelf. Then ask which one he would like. After the old man decided, the young lady grabbed the box and handed over to him. The old man took it over with his trembling hands, and he kept saying. "Thank you.” It was a heart-melting moment. She could have ignored the old man, but because of compassion. She lent a helping hand to him. We help elders to accomplish trivial things, such as opening the door and grabbing things they can’t reach. At the same time toddlers also treat other toddlers with compassion. When my four- year- old cousin’s friend wouldn’t stop crying because her dad was going on a business trip. My cousin tried to use a cookie to distract her attention, then she asked if she wants to play rock paper scissors. My cousin lost the game purposely just to make her friend feel happy. After a while, her friend stopped crying. My cousin’s heart was full of compassion towards her friend, she wants her friend to be happy. We should all have love and compassion for other
It's true that we all need to make a difference in times of crisis and need, but we also need to strive to make a difference each day. I know that I can make a difference in the lives of many people by simply lending a helping hand or showing kindness to others. I try to take the time to cheer up my grandmother and older friends in the nursing home by paying them a visit. I know my parents stay very busy and it helps them out when I come home and lend a helping hand without being asked. I can help a friend with their homework, or sometimes help by just being there to listen to them.
It's not about giving people things, but more so about one’s daily gestures and what one says to everyone each day. Being kind might be tough at times but in the end avoiding a rude comment is much better than saying one. There are so many ways to show others that being kind is important so don’t be afraid to try some out. Looking into it further, if everyone in the world was kind, we could avoid conflicts from small fights on the streets to world wars because everyone would be able to communicate and compromise with one another in a civilized
Aesop once stated, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” In this time period, many people around the globe only focus on their life, and they do not focus on lifting others up. Kindness is one word that can change lives, even when the person that shows kindness doesn’t even know the impact they are making. One act of kindness does not appear to be very important, but every act makes an impact. The world is full of hatred, war, and terrorism, but anybody can start to make a change. Some reasons that any act of kindness has an impact include other people needing positivity, the start of a chain reaction, and the benefit of other people in the world.
...ne day a stranger did something nice for me. If it becomes a tradition it will affect more than just me and the person I helped, but also the person he or she helped and so on. Hence, I want to do something nice for someone else to benefit more and more people and create a tradition.
The act of kindness comes by very seldom. “Being kind and generous to people will take you very far in life” is what my great grandmother always told me. Smiling from ear to ear, eyes gazing across the room and that special touch are all it took for her to make someone day. Many days were made if you were surrounded by her and saw that big, bright, and beautiful smile. Soft hands are what she had from giving her entire life. No one went without, you could be a total stranger but she would give you her last.