The new year is only twenty-five days old, and I have a confession to make. Thanks to a less than ideal start to 2015, I have been less than kind to myself and others. This realization has left me feeling even more guilty, stressed, and anxious, and these negative feelings have been compounded by the flu I succumbed to recently. I have found myself regretting the way the year has begun and wishing that I could either rewind 2015 or fast forward to 2016. Today, though, I found myself making peace with 2015 and my place in it, as I returned to a path of kindness.
As my physical symptoms from the flu begin to subside and the swirling negative emotions and thoughts slow to a manageable mix, I stopped wishing this year away and started refocusing on how to change it for the better for those around me and for myself. I have learned that the best way to get back on track is to return to acts of kindness, as I truly believe that kind words, acts, thoughts, and feelings have the power to transform the world and the people in it for the better. So, today, on the twenty-fifth day of January 2015, I declare a kindness do over.
For me, this kindness do over involves being kind on a variety of levels to myself and others, and since I still am quarantined at home for another day, it begins simply and rather solitarily. Yet, it begins . . .
Think positive thoughts. This is such a basic tenet of kindness, yet it still can be a challenge for me. So, this morning, I woke up and wrapped my physical and emotional aches and pains in kind and loving words. As soon as I spoke to myself in a positive manner, I found my mood and physical condition slowly shift to a better place. Pollyanna I am not, but a kinder, gentler Kristi Jo I am at this moment.
Stay present. This is a perfect companion for the previous act of kindness, as I recognize that if I am reliving the past or anticipating the future, I miss out on the people, places, and things before me. Giving my time and attention to the present is a precious gift indeed, and when I reined in my mind today, I found myself feeling much more focused on the positive and much less anxious and stressed about what may or may not happen in the future.
Practice daily self-care. This means different things to different people, but for me, self-care involves exercise, healthy foods, adequate sleep, laughter, journaling, and people who inspire, motivate, support, and/or love me. Kindness, like charity, begins at home, and today, it began with hot green tea, hearty oatmeal, and a relaxing morning of reading, journaling, and writing for me. When I treat myself kindly, I find myself wanting to share that kindness with the people I encounter.
Connect with others. I may be recovering at home again today, but I still can offer my love and support to those who are in need of a kind word, a good laugh, or some pieces of advice. Words, written and spoken, can be powerful change agents, and I hope that what I say and write encourages, educates, or entertains others when they need it. Two people who occupy space in my mind and heart were the recipients of warm thoughts, kind texts, and silent prayers on this Sunday morning, and I hope that they felt a bit better because of these gestures.
It is a brief list, but it is a good start to reclaiming this year and to extending more kindness to myself and the world around me. If nothing else, I am determined to end this month on a positive note and to ride this wave of kindness into the next eleven months. Better late than never!
What I find helps in addition to your very good list above is trust. With trust that your life is on purpose no matter how it looks or feels, is a way you can slowly learn to let go of what it needs to be. Of course this may be easier said than done but it’s not impossible. Just be kind to you, very kind, and love yourself completely with all the parts that ache and bleed. Soon you’ll see a shift in energy for nothing same the same. If you can go for a short walk outside in a park preferably and stretch that body of yours. It will take all that you have but you will feel a thousand times better. I will be writing about these powers of nature very soon on my blog. Take care and be kind to yourself.
I simply cannot thank you enough for taking the time to both read this post and for sharing such spot on feedback and advice. Letting go and trusting that all is well and that everything is happening as it should for my greater good are concepts I want to embrace, yet I find myself pushing them away. Of late, I have been focusing on having intentions, yet not attaching my physical health and well-being to their outcome. Definitely easier said than done, but as you said, it is not impossible. I find great solace in trail running and being in nature, so, your suggestions definitely resonated with me. Many thanks!
Thank you Kristi Jo. Your words come at a most timely moment for me as I, too, have struggled with this new year. I truly appreciate your words of wisdom and will re-read them regularly to help me stay focused.
You are so welcome, and thank you for sharing such kind words in return. You made my day even better knowing that what I wrote resonated with you. Here’s to a great rest of the year!!!
My pleasure! Reading the Kindness Blog daily reminds me that everyone struggles, that people are basically good, and that I’m not the only one in the world who has “issues”. It gets me outside of my head, which is always a GOOD thing! Hahaha!
Your post brings to mind the atonement. Forgiveness is so important. By that i mean to forgive ourselves for less than good choices in our lives. Then it is to learn from this and move on. We all have good intentions but we are also human too. So don’t be so hard on yourself. 😀
Thanks for this post! It came at the perfect time 😀 I think now’s a great time for a lot of people to “do over” and recommit to their plans for the new year.
Kristi, it goes to show even good hearted people need to take a break to take care of themselves. With daily blog writing for two straight months on top of your job duties, personal (and people close to you) health issues, and the holidays, you may have run out of gas. Take care of you, first. That will enable you to do what you love and give of yourself to others. All the best, BTG
My sincerest thanks for all of your support and wise observations, as you are spot on! I am recovering from the flu, and this down time definitely has helped me to re-evaluate some things. Here’s to good physical and mental health!
Kindness Blog 
Reblogged this on That's Another Story.
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What I find helps in addition to your very good list above is trust. With trust that your life is on purpose no matter how it looks or feels, is a way you can slowly learn to let go of what it needs to be. Of course this may be easier said than done but it’s not impossible. Just be kind to you, very kind, and love yourself completely with all the parts that ache and bleed. Soon you’ll see a shift in energy for nothing same the same. If you can go for a short walk outside in a park preferably and stretch that body of yours. It will take all that you have but you will feel a thousand times better. I will be writing about these powers of nature very soon on my blog. Take care and be kind to yourself.
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I simply cannot thank you enough for taking the time to both read this post and for sharing such spot on feedback and advice. Letting go and trusting that all is well and that everything is happening as it should for my greater good are concepts I want to embrace, yet I find myself pushing them away. Of late, I have been focusing on having intentions, yet not attaching my physical health and well-being to their outcome. Definitely easier said than done, but as you said, it is not impossible. I find great solace in trail running and being in nature, so, your suggestions definitely resonated with me. Many thanks!
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You are very welcome 😃
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Thank you Kristi Jo. Your words come at a most timely moment for me as I, too, have struggled with this new year. I truly appreciate your words of wisdom and will re-read them regularly to help me stay focused.
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You are so welcome, and thank you for sharing such kind words in return. You made my day even better knowing that what I wrote resonated with you. Here’s to a great rest of the year!!!
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Reblogged this on Musings of the Half-Crazy and commented:
Kind words of wisdom from a great site to visit daily!
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Many thanks for sharing this!
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My pleasure! Reading the Kindness Blog daily reminds me that everyone struggles, that people are basically good, and that I’m not the only one in the world who has “issues”. It gets me outside of my head, which is always a GOOD thing! Hahaha!
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We are thrilled to be part of your day, and your kind words remind us why we love what we do and that kindness matters!
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Man,. . . we can sure learn awareness through our own faults and acknowledge them. Great Post! Love visiting 🙂
Author, Cat Lyon
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Cat. thank you so much for visiting, as it is wonderful to have you here!
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I love this quote!!! It is so true. While there is life, there is hope!
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Shiri, so glad that this quote resonated with you, too. Here’ s to hope that springs eternal!
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Your very kind!
I welcome you to check out my blog! http://www.beauteousbeginnings.wordpress.com
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Thanks for the link, as it looks great!
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Thanks for the support!
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Your post brings to mind the atonement. Forgiveness is so important. By that i mean to forgive ourselves for less than good choices in our lives. Then it is to learn from this and move on. We all have good intentions but we are also human too. So don’t be so hard on yourself. 😀
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Atonement and forgiveness are definite themes in my life, both for myself and for others. Thanks so much for this gentle reminder!
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Truly a wonderful list. I’d even call it the 4 steps to an all loving life.
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Wow -thank you so much!
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Thanks for this post! It came at the perfect time 😀 I think now’s a great time for a lot of people to “do over” and recommit to their plans for the new year.
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So glad that you liked this post and that it was timely. The more, the merrier for a 2015 do over!
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I kicked off the year as a cranky bitch but my mood is improving and as such I am less a cranky bitch
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Well done:)
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So true. We cannot be kind to others until we are kind to ourselves. sd
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Thanks so much, and I am glad that I am not alone in this.
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Kristi, it goes to show even good hearted people need to take a break to take care of themselves. With daily blog writing for two straight months on top of your job duties, personal (and people close to you) health issues, and the holidays, you may have run out of gas. Take care of you, first. That will enable you to do what you love and give of yourself to others. All the best, BTG
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My sincerest thanks for all of your support and wise observations, as you are spot on! I am recovering from the flu, and this down time definitely has helped me to re-evaluate some things. Here’s to good physical and mental health!
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