Kindness is Free

Day 103: Kindness is Free 

“You can always give something, even if it is only kindness.” – Ann Frank

How do you feel when you are approached and asked for money by a homeless person? How do you feel and react to the homeless you may see on street corners holding signs that ask for money? What about the young mothers that ask for money on the commuter trains, wile pushing their baby in a stroller? Do you simply avoid them, look away, occupy yourself, do you feel uncomfortable, annoyed, guilty? Do you engage in some way or give money?

I often feel a sense of shame and guilt when approached and I have the tendency to ignore, avoid or occupy myself so that I do not have to make eye contact. Every once in a while I will give money and smile, but for the most part I avoid. I suppose I could give a dollar to every homeless person I encountered, but I’d soon run out of dollars. Instead, I think about the quote from Ann Frank. Kindness is always available to give and doesn’t cost anything. In fact, being kind and showing kindness provides abundance for both the giver and the one that receives.

As an act of kindness and a new approach to a homeless person, I am willing to come to a place of compassion and smile. No longer will I feel bad that they are where they are and I am where I am. I will feel a sense of gratitude for my life and simply smile and show kindness.

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Jose Rivera