“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
– Mark Twain
Several months ago, I wrote an article about the importance of keeping a positive attitude and how doing so could help promote personal happiness, thus helping maintain a healthier brain. I also mentioned how much better our lives can be when we add random acts of kindness to our daily life.
Practicing these small acts, combined with a good attitude, can influence the world in which we live: our neighborhood, workplace, our home, and our lives.
I would like to share a few things I do every day. Now please understand I am no saint, nor am I trying to sound like one, but I do practice doing positive, nice things on a daily basis. Some examples might be:
I try to be aware of the world around me. For example, I was at the grocery store the other day and noticed a man leaning on a pole in the parking lot. He was out of breath. I thought he was having a heart attack.
I approached him and asked if I could help. “Yes,” he said. “I cannot find my car and have been looking for it for over 30 minutes.”
I suggested he relax, take a breath, tell me what type of car he had, and within minutes I located his car. I walked him to his car and he hugged and thanked me.
Another practice of mine is to be a patient driver. I drive from Bluffton to Hilton Head five days a week, and believe me, this can make a normal person insane.
The traffic is always heavy, and most drivers are on their phones and in their own world.
I have decided that either I could be aggressive or I could just relax and be courteous. The latter works much better. I feel good when I get to work, and when you are a nice driver others are nice.
It is contagious.
Other little things: I always take my own bags in for groceries – it’s better for the environment; I keep cat food in my car for little kitties I see in parking lots so I can give them a treat; and if I see someone in the store that looks nice, I tell them, “You look so nice today.”
I also call people by name when they are wearing a nametag, and the simplest kindness of all is always saying, “Have a nice day” or “Thank you.”
One more quick reminder: Memory Fest will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 12 at Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort. For more information and to register, call 843-842-6688. Do not miss this great opportunity to learn some important tools to stay positive.
Happy New Year!
Karen Doughtie is assistant director of Memory Matters, serving Bluffton and Hilton Head. karen@memory-matters.org
