Reaching Out For Kindness

Day 53: Reaching Out For Kindness

“Keep reaching out because you may help pull someone out of darkness and guide them into the light.” – Caroline Naoroji

Sometimes we find ourselves in a dark place. Maybe we wake up sad, unmotivated, or in a general state of malaise. Whatever the reason, most often when we feel that way, we tend to want to isolate, hide under the covers, not pick up the phone or do much of anything. What do you do when you feel this way? How do you get out of it? Do you isolate or do you reach out and find kindness, connection or inspiration.

I have to admit, that sometimes it sounds appealing to hide under the covers and avoid people. Especially because it can feel embarrassing and vulnerable to admit our sad state to another person. However, in my experience, the end result is friendship, kindness, connection and inspiration.

Kindness to Self:

Yes, reaching out when we are down, sad or depressed can be difficult, but the rewards are innumerable and more often than not leads to a deeper friendship.

Kindness to Others:

We all have our problems and burdens, but have you ever noticed that when you reach out to others in need the problems seem to melt away? Not only do the burdens fade away, but in there place, comes joy, wisdom and connection, which leads to intimacy and friendship. Reaching out and helping others feels good and gets us out of our stuff.

Kindness to Strangers:

Reaching out to help a stranger or strangers can be thought of as volunteering at an organization that helps the less fortunate or it can be seen as a simple gesture of noticing when someone might benefit from our help. Maybe it’s assisting someone with a flat tire or offering a snack to the person sitting next to you on the long train ride home or maybe it’s holding the door open for the mom struggling with her 4 kids, a stroller and a grocery cart. Whatever it is, try reaching out more and see what comes back.

Kindness to Our Planet:

Keep reaching out on behalf of our planet in any and all ways that you can think of. Reach out and offer your time or money to an organization that acts as a steward for our beloved home.

Environmental Defense Fund      The Nature Conservancy     The Sierra Club

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Karolina Michalak