The Kind Truth

Day 145: The Kind Truth

I’m torn between being completely transparent and keeping up a front. The truth is, I love writing this blog. I set out to write a post every day for 365 days, starting on World Kindness Day back on November 13th, as a way to record my discovery, practice and creation of kindness in my life. Over the last several months a lot has changed in my life. I have made tremendous progress on my journey to find, create, and live in kindness.  I have also gone from having a few hours a day to write, while balancing raising the kids and teaching yoga to working full time as an email marketer. I have been trying to squeeze the writing in after an 8-9 hour day plus 2 hours of commuting and all the other things that go along with raising a family, such as helping with homework, sports carpools, dinner, shopping and the list goes on and on. Here I am writing at 10pm at night, when I should be sleeping because I have to be up at 5 to be in the office for a 7:30 meeting. God, it sounds like I am complaining. I’m not, I actually love my new job, love my family, love writing, but really miss swimming, going to the gym, hanging out with the kids. I guess my point in sharing this, is that it is honest and it is where I am. It also is a way to prepare myself and perhaps give myself the permission to let go of my daily blog writing. I would hate for one of the things I love to become something I dread or resent, but there are some nights, i’d just rather go to sleep. I am human, I am not a supermom or a superwoman, but I do strive to be a kind one. Kindwoman, that is who I am and right now the kindest thing I can do is to at least give myself the permission to let go if need be.

To be continued…

With Kindness,

Jennifer

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Jocilyn Pope

A Table of Kindness

Day 143: A Table of Kindness

I received a wonderful compliment from the mother of one of my yoga students. She shared with me how her daughter loved that it wasn’t just a yoga class, but more, that it was a place where she could share and “talk about stuff.” The mother also shared that whatever we spoke about in class, later turned into a family discussion at the dinner table.

(At the beginning of every class, I gather my students in a circle and we share. Each student receives a turn while everyone else gives their full attention. Sometimes I have a preset theme or subject and other times I simply check in and asked how they are each feeling.)

The compliment got me thinking about two things. One, that I could do the same thing every night at my dinner table with my family, and two, how amazing it is that a circle of sharing at a yoga class could then influence and affect an entire family. It is rare, especially as we get older, that there is a place to go and check in to share our feelings. Perhaps all families, all classes, and all work environments should start the day with circle time or end the day at a table where kind listening and sharing take place in a loving and supportive way.

Start your own table or circle of kindness. Try doing it every morning to start the day or at the end of the day around the dinner table. You might just be surprised at what comes out of your children. And if you do not have children, try it with your partner or roommates.

With Love and Kindness,

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Space Cadett

Kindness is Everything

Day 141: Kindness is Everything

“Kindness, I discovered, is everything in life.” -Isaac Bashevis Singer

There is nothing more to add. I too have discovered that kindness is everything in life.

Jennifer

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Jin Neoh

Slowing Down for Kindness

Day 140: Slowing Down for Kindness

“Slow down everyone. You’re moving too fast. – Jack Johnson

I don’t know about you, but some days I feel like I rush from one thing to the next. The day begins before the sun rises and then it feels like a marathon or a never-ending sprint. I wonder if all the things I pack into one day are really all that necessary. On those sprinting days, which are often, I feel my shoulders tighten, by breath become shallow and my patience running thin. By the end of the day I’m exhausted and not sure when and where the kindness was felt or given. On these days, I must remember to first be compassionate with myself by praising myself for my best effort. Next, I try to do something that feels good, whether that is a swim, a hug from one of my children or a long bath. Lastly, I remind myself that life is a journey, not a race, and if I just slow down, I might be able to feel the kindness.

Learning to slow down for ourselves and for the people in our lives may be the most important and loving gift we can give.

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Kostas Tsirogk

Tears of Kindness

Day 139: Tears of Kindness

“…you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit.” – Lemony Snicket

It is amazing how clear, refreshed, and cleansed I feel after a really good cry. It still surprises me, when I actually allow my feelings to come out rather than resist them, how much lighter I feel. I awaken the next morning and feel joy in every part of my life.

I have spent a majority of my life resisting, avoiding, or denying my true feelings. I learned this unhealthy habit as a child. There just wasn’t much room for my feelings at home, school, on the playground or in church. It wasn’t something my generation did. In fact, outside of catholic school retreats, there were very few places where someone took the time to ask me how I felt. Most of the time I was told that there was no time for my hurt feelings or my happy feelings or whatever feelings I might have been having.

This also serves as a reminder to ask my children how they feel more often, and to actually give them the attention, space, and time to have their feelings felt, heard, and understood. Just imagine a world that is full of people that feel heard and understood. That is the type of world that I would like to create and live in.

Remember to show kindness and compassion to yourself, others, strangers, and our beautiful planet, by allowing full expression of feelings. Whether that be in the form of tears, laughter, joy, sorrow, anger or any of the other feelings you may be having.

With Kindness,

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Tatjana Ch

Harmonious Kindness

Day 138: Harmonious Kindness

“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha

The amazing Louise Hay, author of several books, including You Can Heal Your Life, speaks at length about the power of affirmations. One of her regular affirmations is that all of her relationships are harmonious. She especially applies this affirmation to people she works with, landlords and any person others have deemed difficult. She has even used a version of this affirmation with people in her life that she had past turmoil with. In each relationship that she affirmed to be harmonious, she soon found to be harmonious. I have been putting a version of her affirmation to test and I have to say, it works. I have written, said aloud and even meditated that certain relationships are harmonious and healthy and sure enough they have proved to be or are shifting that direction. I now have added that all of my relationships, and any new people I meet, are harmonious and healthy. It is amazing what a positive attitude and a regular kind affirmation can create. What we think, we certainly become.

With Kindness,

Jennifer Palazzo

 

Kindly Finding the Beauty

Day 137: Kindly Finding the Beauty

“A beautiful life begins with a beautiful mind.” – Unknown

“Life is beautiful if you flow with its natural beauty. Resistance makes it ugly.” – Terri Guillemets

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius

 There are times in life that we find ourselves in the midst of perceived ugliness or, in other words, in a situation that we would rather not be. These difficult, upsetting and challenging situations are the very things that make us stronger, force us to grow, and expand our hearts. Our inclination in any unpleasant situation is to resist and protect ourselves. It is only later, looking back that we can see the gifts that were there waiting to be found and revealed. The diamond in the rough, the buried treasure and the hidden gems are all sayings that come to mind. If we are patient and have faith, allow ourselves to flow with life, and use a positive outlook to look for the treasures, the beauty of life will be revealed.

With Kindness,

Jennifer

 Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind David Sherring

Loving Kindness

Day 136: Loving Kindness

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” – Oscar Wilde

Happy Easter! Whether you celebrate the day or not, it coincides with Spring and other religious holidays which all have a common thread, and that is new beginnings. How does the subject of new beginnings relate to loving oneself? Think of Spring for a moment and what is actually taking place. Spring is a time of expansion, growth, beauty, novelty, and bravery. If you picture a flower or any plant during spring, it is opening to the sun and warmth and at the same time beneath the surface it is growing stronger roots. Opening up and growing takes a great amount of trust and bravery and that is where I find the connection between new beginnings and loving oneself. In order to make any changes in oneself, and to start a new journey, takes a great amount of self-love and self-trust. We alone are the only one inside of ourselves, so we might as well learn to be totally, madly in love with who and what are. Be brave, be bold, but most of all be self-loving.

With Kindness,

Jennifer

 Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Hervé de Brabandère

Kindness in a Cuddle

Day 134: Kindness in a Cuddle

“Cuddling literally kills depression, relieves anxiety and strengthens the immune system.” – Unknown

I have no idea if that quote is based on scientific studies and data or just made up, but I do not really care, it completely makes sense to me. Who doesn’t feel better, more loved, recharged and content after a good cuddling session? We all need the same things in life and we certainly need to feel good and loved in order to be kind and spread that kind feeling to others.

Lucky for me that my children still like to watch a movie and cuddle or read a book and cuddle, because after a very long week of work and life, that is exactly what I needed. Whether we cuddle with our children, spouse, friend, parent or beloved animal, harness that love and turn it inward so that you can feel love and turn that into kindness for yourself and all others.

With Kindness,

Jennifer

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Joe Batluck

Kind Rewards

Day 133: Kind Rewards

“Happiness can exist only in acceptance.” – George Orwell

Are you one of those people that can kindly accept and receive the gifts and rewards that you have worked so hard to achieve? Or are you one of those people that down play your achievements or refuse to acknowledge yourself?

I think, I may fall into the latter group. I wish I could say: hell yes! I did that! I’m awesome and bad ass! Or at least think it. Why not celebrate my hard work and the gifts that come with it? Is it because there is still part of me that believes it can be taken away? That I don’t really deserve it? That something bad is around the corner? And where did I develop these beliefs? 

If my thoughts create my beliefs, then I should be very cognizant of my thoughts so that my beliefs reflect what I want and desire. And if I get to pick, then I choose enjoyment. I choose to celebrate and congratulate myself. Nothing bad is lurking around the corner and of course I deserve the rewards of hard work and dedication. I suppose it does not matter where the beliefs came from, what is more important is that I am aware and willing to change my old belief patterns.

Begin to be aware of what you think, and remember that what you think creates your beliefs, which then create your current life. 

We are all worthy of the best in life! Think, Believe, Create!

With Kindness,

Jennifer

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Shirley B.