Marlborough Magazine Marlborough September 2016 Issue | Page 14

Your September

Kindness
Challenge

Kindness should be a part of our daily lives.

It doesn't mean we can’t have negative feelings or let people take
advantage of us. It means always having the intention to contribute
something positive; sometimes even in the face of adversity. With practice,
the act of kindness becomes a habit and we become better people for it.
Your challenge this month is to see how many of these random acts you can do, feel free to add in your own ones too.

“The ripple effect starts with one. One person to be a spark of kindness when another really needs it.”
When in line at a coffee shop, randomly pay for the coffee of the
person behind you too.

Visit a nursing home and spend time with someone who doesn't
have visitors

Buy a variety of cakes and slices. Then with a group of friends turn
up unexpectedly (like a flashmob) at a public place. Then hand out
FREE cake to anyone you see.

Be patient and polite on the road. Be courteous with a wave and
a smile. If another driver makes you angry, let it go instead of
retaliating.

Be kind to the environment by picking up trash when you see it
lying around.

Forgive others. We all make mistakes. No one is perfect or
blameless.

Pick out a local charity and make a cash or item donation to them.

Thank your employees with a kind gesture. Nothing shows good
leadership, great communication skills and depth of character
quite like a boss who can give recognition.

Volunteer your time and help out at a charity fundraiser.
Cook or bake for an unwell friend to help out and cheer them up.
Babysit for an exhausted parent, and give them a wee break to
put their feet up.
Spend quality time with loved ones and tell them how much you
appreciate them.
Pick someone flowers, a simple but thoughtful gesture.
Compliment and say a genuinely nice thing to a stranger and
brighten their day.
Mentor a child or teen. “Encouraged people achieve the best;
dominated people achieve second best; neglected people achieve
the least.” This is especially true when it comes to an at risk child.
Check out Synergy Youth Mentoring, www.familyworks.org.nz for
more info or to register in a programme
Give the benefit of the doubt. Make this the default rule in your
life. Don’t be quick to judge and condemn others.

Similarly, show appreciation to your co-workers. Bring in a jar
of lollies or a homemade treat. Small surprises and tokens of
appreciation spread positivity in the work place.
Let someone go in front of you. Whether it is at the bank, in
the supermarket or at the airport, make someones wait less
frustrating, tedious and irritating.
Embrace your own mistakes. Love and be kind to yourself too.
Accept that you are human and will make mistakes. “The only real
mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” John Powell
Make a card at home and send it to a friend for no reason.
Buy a lottery ticket for a stranger.
Put some coins in someone else’s parking meter.
Walk your friend’s dog.
While mowing your lawn, mow your neighbours too.

Pat someone on the back. A pat on the back can be a way
to say “hello” to a friend, a way to congratulate someone for an
achievement or a way to comfort someone who’s had a
bad experience.

Give a compliment about your waiter / waitress to his / her
manager.

Give up your seat for someone, not just an elderly person.

Smile a lot.

Send someone a small gift anonymously.

Teach someone a new skill

Give a piece of fruit to a delivery person.

Have a little idle moment fun, take the ‘Are you really a kind person?’ test at www.psychologies.co.uk/test-are-you-really-kind-person.
I found it surprisingly constructive and insightful - Summa, this&that Editor