KAoK: 31 Days of Kind Acts – Catch Yourself and a Child

Good morning! I wasn’t really sure what I was going to post today. I had a few ideas in my head for a simple act of kindness, but I just hadn’t narrowed down which one to share today. Then, BAM, it happened. As I was walking the Karmic Kids into school, we saw one of my son’s first-grade friends. He walked with us and chatted, but when we got up to the doors he ran ahead without saying good-bye. My first thought was, “Hellooo, manners. Try using them, mister,” And, then I saw what he was doing. He had run ahead to hold the door open for me. It was such a unpromted kind act. I was really touched. Next thing I knew, both my son and his buddy were holding the doors open for all the kids and parents entering the school lobby. They beamed with pride each time someone said “Thank you.” It was truly just an all around feel-good moment based on a very simple act.

You may be asking yourself right now, “Is that my kind act for today?” Well, it’s not a bad a idea, but no. Keep reading…

I was, however, bothered by the fact that my initial reaction was one of doom and gloom (or least one that expected bad manners) when the other boy ran ahead. Typically, generosity and kindness are my default mode, but today it wasn’t so. I automatically assumed the worst (I’m not used to that; it is such an icky feeling.)

So, here is your first act of kindness for today…make thoughts of kindness and generosity your default mode. Expect your actions and the actions of another to be based on kindness rather than rudeness.  If someone fails to smile or say thank you, don’t assume that they are rude. (Remember assuming make an ASS out of U and ME.) Instead, consider that their action – or lack of  action – is based on a greater good. Perhaps they failed to smile because they just preoccupied about thinking how to help a friend in need. Maybe that person didn’t say thank you because they had a mouth full of food and didn’t want to appear rude by talking with his or her mouth full. Whatever the situation, remember to program kind thoughts as your default mode.

Now, let’s get back to the kind little gentleman at the school. I wanted to reciprocate the act of kindness to him. What could I do? Hmmmm…..I got it! I’m going to call his mom and tell him that I caught him being kind. As parents, we often get reports about less-than-stellar behavior, but what if  it was the opposite? What if we adopted the process of reporting good and kind behavior. Think of the standard it would set for kids. Instead of feeling down about something they did “wrong,” kids could feel good about doing something kind. And, really, what feelings would you rather perpetuate – good or bad?

Anyway, I called the boy’s mom, and said “I just wanted to call to tell you what Nick did this morning at school.” You could feel her tension through the phone line. “Oh no, what’d he do now.” So, I told her. I told her how he held the door open for me. I told her how he continued to hold the door open for other kids. I told her how completely beamed with pride.  She was so excited. After spending a few more minutes chatting, she said that this call had made her feel so good that she was going to make it a point to start calling other parents when she caught their kids being kind. She was going to pay it forward. And, now you have it – your second act of kindness for today (tomorrow too). Catch a child being kind and tell the parents.  Keep perpetuating those good karma feelings and they will return to you exponentially!

In chaos, karma, creativity and kindness,

Julie