We’ve learned there’s nothing “random” about acts of kindness. They are intentional, chosen behaviors of goodwill toward others. This video takes the “not random” concept to the extreme: Judge Trudy White in Baton Rouge issues a court order to Aramis Jackson:
“The court is going to require that you do three random acts of kindness which you don’t have to come back to the court to report on. That’s between you and your maker.”
Watch the full story:
The Dalai Lama created a minor splash in the news yesterday when he announce he is donating $50,000 from his personal trust to help fund kindness research at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Center will use the funds to continue its exploration “into how healthy qualities of mind such as kindness, empathy and compassion develop and might be nurtured.”
Pretty interesting. If you take a look around you, I’m sure you’ll agree that not everyone is kind. Or at least that some people are kinder than others. Maybe it’s genes, maybe it’s upbringing. But maybe, kindness can be taught.
Last week we talked about the silliness of the term “random act of kindness.” There’s no such thing. Acts of kindness are deliberate, intentional acts. Just ask Terry Mustion.
Ms. Mustion is a single mother of three daughters who has offered to donate a kidney to her mother who is suffering from kidney disease and diabetes:
“Even if you’re on the list, sometimes it takes 10 years or more to find a suitable donor.” The doctors said her body would have a better chance of accepting the kidney if it came from a family member. I got tested and found out that the match was beyond perfect. I agreed immediately – it was never a question.”
It will take a couple of months for Ms. Muntion to recover, and the three girls will no doubt have a few more items on their to-do list during that time. It’s an act of kindness from the whole family.
People throw around the term “random act of kindness” all the time as an accepted phrase in our lexicon. It’s always troubled me. Randomly being kind? Really? Like, maybe you tripped in the kitchen, falling into the lemon meringue pie, ruining it, and thus saving your Aunt Trudie from a slice that would have only inflamed her gout?
Sorry, but I don’t buy it and neither does Susan Smalley, PhD in Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. She says in a recent essay,
“While the acts may be directed toward anonymous people or animals, the person’s act of kindness is anything but random — it is deliberate and directional — non-random in nature.
I think that the non-random nature of kindness is key to its value. It reflects a conscious choice on the part of the actor, to give, to help, to share and to soothe.”
So give some kindness, and give yourself some credit at the same time.
Imagine my surprise when, amidst my digital explorations, I stumbled across The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. The have all kinds of tools, and ideas, and inspiration for performing acts of kindness in your school, your community, everywhere. Their mission is:
“The Random Acts of Kindness™ Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to “pass it on” to others. We provide free educational and community ideas, guidance, and other resources to kindness participants through our website.”
And, if you think it’s just another charity about to hit you up for a donation, think again:
“The Foundation is privately held and funded. We accept no donations, grants, or membership dues. We do not provide financial assistance to individuals or organizations. The Foundation has no religious or organizational affiliations; we encourage the practice of kindness in all sectors of society.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is the United States delegate to the World Kindness Movement, an organization that includes various nations. People in these countries promote kindness within their countries’ borders and are creating a global network of kindness and compassion.”
Who knew there was a World Kindness Movement?
Your random act of kindness won’t seem quite so “random” if you need to pull an idea from the list, but it’s the kindness that counts! Loki Morgan provides seven excellent places to start:
In every act of kindness there are two players: the giver of the kindness; and the recipient. In these weekly posts we’ve tended to write about people giving kindness, how important it is, how great it makes the giver feel, and how it is the manifestation of Jesus’ “love your neighbor” teachings in the Gospels.
But what about the recipients? We all like being on the receiving end of a little kindness, right? Are there things we can do (or not do) that can increase our chances of kindness flowing our way? In a word, yes. Check out this re-enactment of the “beach blanket experiment” and see what kinds of behaviors attract (or repel) the kindness of strangers.
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, was this year’s commencement speaker at Princeton. In his address he tells the story of his summers in Texas on his grandparent’s ranch and the lesson he (painfully) learned about the difference between being clever and kind.
“What I want to talk to you about today is the difference between gifts and choices. Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy — they’re given after all. Choices can be hard. You can seduce yourself with your gifts if you’re not careful, and if you do, it’ll probably be to the detriment of your choices.”
It’s a wonderful speech, and I highly encourage you to read the whole thing.
At 4 AM this morning, after lengthy debate in their Senate, Argentina became the first Latin American country to grant gays and lesbians “all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage brings to heterosexual couples.” The vote was 33-27 with 3 abstentions.
Full story here.
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AOK Thursday: Online Comments
Thursday, October 7th, 2010 by JELSince canceling my newspaper subscription about 6 months ago, I have relied almost exclusively on online sources of information (except my indispensable New Yorker in print). By and large, this has worked out fine. Except when I get to the bottom of whatever article I’m reading. I know what’s coming and I know I should just move on, but something compels me to scroll down into the very depths of Hades itself.
I’m talking about the “comments” people post. It could be a story about baby pandas or a child prodigy or a new all-natural candy bar that tastes great and has no calories and the comments would be still be filled to the brim with hate and churning stomach acids. People screaming at each other and the world at large. I won’t even mention the political articles.
Wouldn’t Jesus be appalled at this behavior? You may hide behind your WACKBOY885 handle and think all of your bile is anonymous fun, but it’s not. It’s hate pollution.
If you believe Jesus is watching all things at all times, consider yourself in line for a good smiting.
Then consider some kindness.
Tags: act of kindness, AOK Thursday, online comments
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