Intentional acts of kindness 2

 in December 2019: Kindness  tagged compassion / kindness / self-compassion by

In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Is that your dream? To be kind. Not the dream of fame, fortune, significance, to be needed or capable. But the desire to live a life sharing beyond yourself – because that what kindness is and kindness does. It looks outward as well as inward.

Kindness, the quality of being friendly, generous, considerate.

How trivial it sounds? Yet kindness has the power to break us. Each of us. Even the most resolute of men and women. And it is done with little fanfare. It is seen in the way we speak, words we use, our gestures and reflections. It is our acts of inclusion, acceptance, and forgiveness. Kindness reflects a generous humanity that allows for mistakes, risk taking and imperfection. It gives voice to a universal search for belonging and having value.

And each of these actions and qualities need not be reserved for strangers. I’ve heard talk of random acts of kindness. Most often reserved for those we do not know, those less fortunate or those struggling with challenges. But I would prefer to live a life of intentional acts of kindness. Including strangers and friends, seemingly broken and seemingly perfect, those I love and those who don’t like me, those in need and those in plenty. Because everyone needs the magic of kindness. It changes us.

And sometimes, just sometimes, I need to be a little generous with myself. Because lord knows, how often I need that same reassurance that I too belong and am valuable.

About Kelley

Kelley is a speaker, author, overseas aid worker and perpetual student. She is passionate about women and gender issues, both in the local and international context, which underpins her enthusiasm for kinwomen and its contribution to women ‘living their finest life’. In 2014 Kelley completed a Masters in International and Community Development before establishing The Foxglove Project. Foxglove is a registered charity focused on supporting international development projects that are sustainable and driven by indigenous leadership. Kelley’s paid work requires her to travel extensively to evaluate and support projects supported by Australian funds. This experience and networking enables Foxglove to partner with outstanding overseas agencies delivering real opportunities for the poor and vulnerable to lead independent self-determined lives. Kelley combines these passions with a love of family and faith. Across more than 30 years of marriage, Kelley and her husband have worked through many of the challenges of building a relationship while raising three sons. Their boys have now finished high school changing the dynamics of family life and relationships. One of her great joys is sharing parenting lessons and learning from good and bad (sometimes disastrous) experiences. She uses humour and common sense to talk about the everyday challenges facing parents in today’s context.

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