Quote of the Day -- On Kindness. And Hope

“I'm so tired of waiting, aren't you, for the world to become good and beautiful and kind?” —Langston Hughes

Quote of the Day -- On Being Nice

In this modern age of computers and cell phones and now a coronavirus pandemic.

Hold doors for strangers.

Let people cut in front of you in traffic.

Say good morning, please, thank you, excuse me, and I'm sorry.

Be patient with sales clerks.

Smile at passersby, as often as we are provided the opportunity.

Don't stand idly by and live in a world where unconditional kindness is absent or invisible. 

Join in showing kindness to someone who may not necessarily deserve it, but who needs it. 

We all need it. 

Find your own way to swing the pendulum in the direction of kindness. 

Be kind to strangers, as well as to friends and family who may seem like strangers these days, today and every day.

-- Written, I'm told, by one Alexis Barclay I'm told. Edited here by me.

Go. Enjoy. 

Be happy.

Be nice.

The world needs that. Heck, you and I need that.

Always.

Quote -- Poem -- of the Day; On Coronavirus, Kindness and All of Us

I can't imagine anything more timely, pertinent and poignant just now, in this situation, than this.

History will remember when the world stopped

And the flights stayed on the ground.

And the cars parked in the street.

And the trains didn’t run.

History will remember when the schools closed

And the children stayed indoors

And the medical staff walked towards the fire

And they didn’t run.

History will remember when the people sang

On their balconies, in isolation

But so very much together

In courage and song.

History will remember when the people fought

For their old and their weak

Protected the vulnerable

By doing nothing at all.

History will remember when the virus left

And the houses opened

And the people came out

And hugged and kissed

And started again

Kinder than before.

--Donna Ashworth

Entertainment Overnight - New

I was only just introduced to Sturgill Simpson and his band last Saturday Evening after having seen their performance on Saturday Night Live. I liked the rock and roll I saw there but this is another really nice one, completely unlike their two pieces that night.



"It's all a dream.

National Do Something Nice Day!

Happy National Do Something Nice Day!

Now, you know what to do---get out there and...

Fantastic, Thoughtful, Generous Idea From Terrific Local Artist

Check out what Kansas City's own Michael Savage is doing. He posted this today on his Facebook page.

Took a day off…don’t know what to do?!

So I was thinking….always a dangerous thing, I know. And I thought, it’s time for a new “contest” for art! (don’t mind all the commas, not a wordsmith like someone I know)

Here it is! Every month I am going to give a piece of art work, of my choice, away, duh, to one lucky (presumptuous?) and creative person.

Now the the deal. In the wake of so much sadness and craziness these days, and I’ll leave it at that, all I ask is for you, to enter, is to take a pic or record one random act of kindness ( or more) that you yourself instigate. Don’t plan on it, let it happen naturally. I know you have to have your camera ready, but isn’t it always!? Ha! And keep it simple. Example. Help the little old lady across the street. Help change someone’s tire. Buy someone a coke or coffee, hug a sad person, put a new roll of toilet paper on the dispenser when you empty it, cook some food for a needy family, pick a worm up after a heavy rain and set him in the grass, help someone move (well maybe not go that far). Make it fun, charitable, difficult, easy….it doesn’t matter. The point is to be kindand do it with a happy face. No smile, no win. I know most of us do this already, but I think it would be cool at the end of the month to see all the great heartfelt examples captured.

I believe we can have fun and share with our friends on this site. Because you wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could be friends. Goofy? Yes I am, but I want to show that we as humans are good and fun and happy. Please don’t feel obliged, but do feel free at the end of each month to participate in looking at the entries, commenting and going away happier.

So….start thinking or preferably not, and just remember to keep that camera ready! And don’t try too hard….it’ll just happen. Thanks and I hope you like the idea. I’ll throw some in there too!

Oh, and if you prefer not to post on this thread (I’ll keep reminding us throughout each month). Feel free to message me. And If you win, I’ll ask you first if you want to be known. And if you don’t I’ll just describe it. Cool? Good luck MY friends. We can change the world.

Especially for free art? Sav

What a cool thing, right?

Virtually any Kansas Citian knows his work, I think, either because of him or because of his fantastic style. For instance, here's one of his takes on our own Country Club Plaza.

Kansas City is so very fortunate to have artists--and people--like Michael living and creating right here in the city. (Charlie Podrebarac, too, I think and all the others, far too many to mention).

So there you are, Kansas City! Go out there and keep doing those nice things for others. For at least a while here, once a month, you'll get a huge reward for it, too! And thank you very much, Michael!

The good side of people

21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity

Link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity

In the face of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting and the Boston bombings and anything else, let's never forget it.

Happy birthday, Albert Einstein, belated

"The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. The trite subjects of human efforts, possessions, outward success, luxury have always seemed to me contemptible."

--Albert Einstein, 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955

Link: 

Albert Einstein Official Site

Albert Einstein - Wikipedia

Albert Einstein - Biography

Albert Einstein Quotes 

On kindness

From a friend's Facebook page last evening (thanks, Kevin):

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Link: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org

Kindness transcends all (or should)

Quote of the day (of a lifetime?)

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." --John Wesley, Christian evangelist, Anglican priest and founder of the Methodist Church. (With thanks to the South Kansas City Observer for the reminder).

On being kind

A modern way to remind us of Plato's old quote: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Happy new year and all the best in it for you, family and friends.

Kindness: pay it forward

It really does work as simply as this. Have a great day, y'all.

The only thing from the Bible that seems to matter

1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV) 1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Quote of the day

"The heart is what matters most of all."  --Kris Kristofferson  (Yeah, tough guy Kris Kristofferson.  Go figure.)


Enjoy your Sunday, y'all.

Quote of the day

"Believe in yourself and believe in love.  Love something.  We've got to learn to love something deeply."  --Andrew Wyeth, quoted in the book "Wisdom" by Andrew Zuckerman.

(Go, get this book.  It's inexpensive but good.)

Have a great weekend, y'all.

Lessons for living

Mind you, these are mine.  Also, it doesn't mean I followed all of these at all time, through my entire life (see the last one):

--Be nice

--Be nice always

--Be patient

--As possible, be quiet

--Work hard

--Work smart

--Enjoy yourself

--Be thoughtful

--Be generous, as possible

--Help others

--Help yourself

--Don't criticize

--Love (that's it, just love)

--Don't be (too) foolish

--Don't be too serious ot take yourself too seriously

--Laugh often

--Keep everthing simple

--Read all you can

--Learn

--Never think you know that much

--Be responsible

--Lighten up, as possible and as necessary

--Forgive.  Forgive others, as necessary;  forgive yourself, as necessary

--Excecise

--Excercise caution

--Exercise restraint

--Excercise moderation

--Live life to the fullest

--Help everyone you can

--Give selflessly (but not foolishly)

--Be thrifty

--Don't be cheap

--Save, as much as possible

--Create as much beauty as possible

--Laugh as much and as frequently as possible (but don't be a fool or obnoxious)

--Don't be afraid to cry but... (see next line)

--Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself, because that's what you're doing

--Remember we're all hypocrites at some time, to some degree, in some, different ways