Kind Karma

Day 142: Kind Karma

“The love we give away is the only love we keep.” Elbert Hubbard

In other words, we get what we give. Whatever energy, kindness, quality and time we give, we will receive in return. I have a hunch that this applies to the thoughts we think as well. If we have a head full of negative thoughts, how can we be fully present in our kindness? I have to admit, I still catch a negative thought here or there, but rather than berate myself for falling back into old patterns, I simply think a positive thought. Most of the time that works, unless of course it is a deeper pattern, and in that case I give myself time to explore the thought and the space and time to heal.

By having kind thoughts, we will create kind beliefs about ourselves and others. Kind beliefs will soon shape our world and a kindness will shine out and touch those around us. That is Kind Karma.

With Love and Kindness,

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Frisee Max

Look Up for Kindness

Day 125: Look Up for Kindness

“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot

A few days ago while taking this amazing yoga class, the teacher gave us an assignment for the week. It was quite simple: Look up. That is it. What she meant, and of course explained to the class, is that she wanted us to look up, look around and notice all the beauty and gifts that our world has to offer. She asked us to put our screens away, look up, and take in all of life. Take in the people, the weather, our surroundings, the sounds we hear, and the many things we see. She asked us to be open to receiving the world.

It is amazing what is out there if we just look up and engage. I have been practicing this sort of engagement since I started this blog, but it was a nice reminder to look up. I usually play the smile game to see how many people I can get to smile back at me, but today, I tried to simply look up without trying to change or affect anyone else. In others words I observed and took in my surroundings and I noticed some pretty cool buildings with interesting architecture, some beautiful flowers blooming, and how incredible the sky looked this afternoon. I also made myself look up on the commuter train this morning rather than read or listen to music with my head down. I found myself intrigued by the many different types of people and wondered whether they were happy, rushed, sad, tired, excited, or any of the other possibilities. I also noticed how 90 percent of the train riders were looking down. I wonder what it would be like if 90 percent looked up.

Look up, make eye contact, and be open to receive people and the world at large. You never know what good might come to you.

With Kindness,

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Babak Azad

Traveling Kindness

Day 109: Traveling Kindness

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” -Dalai Lama

 

It’s a whole new life, this life of practicing kindness.

I was traveling today and I had so many opportunities to practice simple acts of kindness and it was fabulous and inspiring! My lovely friend took me to the airport after we dropped her kids to school. We arrived to LAX fairly quickly. I arrived a few hours before my flight and was hoping to get on the 8:45 flight instead of my 10:40 flight. The problem was that it was already 8:25. Luckily, the 8:45 was delayed until 9:25. Perfect! I got through security swiftly, found the appropriate gate, walked up and nicely asked the agent if I could fly stand by. She explained that the list was already filled with 15 people. I asked if I should bother adding my name. She said yes. I thanked her, sat down and told myself that I was going to get on that flight, and within 20 minutes I was called up and given a boarding pass. I gave her a big smile, enthusiastically thanked her, and told her that she made my day!! She looked up in surprise, and gave me the biggest and most genuine smile back! I think I made her day too!

I continued to greet and thank every airline employee I saw. They all individually stopped what they were doing, looked up and returned warm smiles. The ticket agent, paused, looked up, met my eyes, greeted me by name and told me to have a beautiful day! I found an open seat, room for my bag, and everyone was so pleasant and nice. Eventually a young man, traveling to tour Northern California universities asked to sit in the middle seat next to me. He was so polite, sweet and open to converse. We shared, had a lovely conversation about passion, books, where we grew up and much more. When it was time to part ways, he wished me luck and I did the same. Later in the airport, we ran into each other and he introduced himself. We had forgotten to exchange names! We wished each other well and both left feeling joyful.

I practiced kindness, smiling, greeting, positive thinking and positive affirmations. My day of travel was beautiful, made me feel joyous and so happy! I lived in the moment and in the flow of life knowing that the kindness I practiced was reflected back to me tenfold.

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Interact Images

Kind Meetings

Day 73: Kind Meetings

“With every person who crosses your path, make it your intention to leave them better than you found them.” – Chris Michaels & Edward Viljoen

I love the above quote and I aspire to and intend to learn how to leave every person I meet better than I found them. It may seem effortless to be kind and give to others when we like them or they are pleasant, but what about the unpleasant moments and people that cross our paths? Can we intentionally, with great purpose and adequate practice, leave those people better than we found them? If we are present and willing to accept the moment, the person, or situation as it is, being kind to those people and situations that are unpleasant, will become effortless and perhaps even rewarding. It is the challenging situations and people that will be our most profound and deeply felt lessons and teachers.

 Kindness to Self:

Can we leave ourselves better than we currently find ourselves? Absolutely! By giving others what we desire and want, we will certainly receive the bounty of kind giving.

Kindness to Others and Strangers:

Have the intention this week, or even just this day, to leave every person you meet better than you found them. Notice what happens, notice any changes in your self, in your day or even the people around you. If you come across a challenging or unpleasant person or situation, check in and become very aware of the present moment. This way it is unlikely that you will react, instead you will be able smile and offer assistance.  In doing this, we will leave the person better than we found them.

Kindness to Our Planet:

Always leave a place better than you found it. Let us all go out of our way to educate the children around us to clean up and be responsible for their garbage, so that the next generation will leave this planet better than it currently is. Local schools, parks and communities often organize beautification and clean up days. Check in with your local community to see how you can help.

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Piotr Pastusiak