Kindness is Never Wasted

I am a fairly optimistic person, but even so, there have been times in my life that have been extraordinarily difficult. There have been times when I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get out of bed and other times when I wondered if I could. Sometimes my feet felt like I was walking in molasses. Emotional and physical exhaustion put us in crisis mode.

During times like these, kind gestures make the largest impact on me. The person smiling at the grocery store and asking genuinely how my day was. The stranger opening the door for me going into a building. The friend calling out of the blue to just let me know they are thinking about me.

I admit there are times in my life when I've thought, “Oh, it won’t make a difference if I say something kind or not, they won’t even notice.” But the unexpected kindness and thoughtfulness of others has made me reconsider.

By the kindness of others, I have come to know that kindness is never wasted.

It’s not wasted by me on the grumpy person who says something rude that I don't react to. It’s not wasted on the person who halfheartedly responds at the cleaners. It’s not wasted on your close friend who seems perfectly happy.

Applying this to my life has also brought the kindest friendships into my own life.

For myself, I feel that you never know how the other person is doing. I once heard a thought from a Christian leader Henry B Eyring: Be kind to everyone because 1/2 of the people are going through a tough time. When I remember this it helps me take simple consideration for each person I see.

Sometimes it takes effort-like for that person who stole your perfect parking spot!

But when I feel like biting my fingernails or worse, I try to remember to take a few deep breaths, and repeat, ” Kindness is never wasted.” (I also grab a couple of my favorite calming oils like "Forgiveness and Balance--Really, I do!)

At the end of the day it doesn’t matter there isn't a bank to check out our deep deposits in kindness. We might believe we helped anyone at all.

But there's one person that knows the peace I feel at the end of the day. Me. Then I know it's worth it, and that is just as it should be. Because kindness is never wasted.