The Kindness Project

Dear Friends,       

Our delightful condominium’s 

Social Committee could 

finally meet after months 

of careful Covid isolation. 

We were now vaccinated and 

enjoying the moment of

 togetherness and festive planning.

As we were scrolling 

the possible activities, 

one of the committee 

co-chairpersons suggested 

we have a theme running 

through our various plans. 

The theme?

        “Kindness”

The committee member 

suggesting this “Kindness Project” 

has done it before. 

First, Josie instituted 

the program in our town, 

and then she introduced 

it internationally. Yes,

internationally! She is a 

person who believes you 

can make the world a better 

place one person at a time 

simply by sharing acts of

loving kindness. So as she

traveled, she passed along 

her Kindness Program. 

She would outline the ways 

we could do this in our condo 

via a hand-out she distributed 

of deeds we could do and quotes 

to live by.

Now, I am not exaggerating 

when I say that those who 

live in this building already 

exude a positive energy.

People who visit our condominium 

often comment on the warmth and friendliness of the people who 

live and work here.

I think when lovely people 

inhabit a place, their personalities 

stamp the atmosphere with 

positivity. Coming into this 

condo can feel like “a warm hug” 

as one resident put it.

So a “Kindness Project,” 

strongly focusing on specific 

acts of kindness made perfect 

sense. We all read 

through the program Josie 

had devised. It suggested 

kind actions  and beautiful 

quotations; specificity is 

always a good way to activate a plan.

What will kindness look 

like in our little community? 

Josie gave us a starter’s

                Be Kind Guide.

Smile and say hello.

Hold the door for others.

If you think someone is lovely or

 has done something special, tell 

him/her.

Spread good thoughts.

And always be your best self to everyone.

I believe these acts are great

wherever you are.

The quotes she gave us were 

to serve as an inspiration and 

motivate these acts of kindness.

One quote suggested,

 “Kindness is not an act, 

it’s a lifestyle.”

I love that quote, because 

it makes being kind as 

natural as breathing.

There’s that little voice 

in all of us that echoes 

through our heart and mind and 

lets us know how right it 

feels when we offer simple

kindnesses to others.

As Booker T. Washington put it, 

“If we lift others up, 

we lift ourselves.”

When truly caring about 

others, we make our world a more 

enlightened and happier place.

Interesting how doing the 

kind deed creates that good

feeling, don’t you think?

“If we all do at least 

one random act of kindness 

daily, we just might set the world

in the right direction,” Josie quoted.

Just the other day a kindness 

was over heard in our building’s lobby.

My husband and his friend 

were walking to the elevator

when they noticed a young 

lady who lives here inviting 

an elderly lady out to dinner. 

This darling young adult

always practices kindness, 

so inviting this octogenarian 

to dinner was not a novel act 

for her; she added that she

would order in if that would

 make it more convenient 

for this senior citizen.

My husband and his friend 

were very touched by this 

young woman’s thoughtfulness. 

She is truly an exceptional person. 

I know for a fact, she does acts 

of kindness often; it’s simply

 “her lifestyle.” 

At this Social Committee

 meeting, Josie, the catalyst 

for this project, suggested 

we wear stickers at our

 upcoming “Meet and Greet” 

event which would highlight our 

Kindness Program. 

Within moments, our 

wonderful Board President, 

attending the meeting, 

had information on how 

many stickers we would

 need and their cost. 

Just talking about

 “random acts of kindness” 

seemed to make our day 

better.

In a world where kindness

is not often mentioned, we, 

in our own living space, 

in our own families, in our

chosen family of friends 

and neighbors, can make 

kindness not only a reality 

but a daily focus.

So, “in a world where 

you can be anything, be kind.” 

You’’ll be making your world 

and the world around 

you a most special place.

We can all do it, and 

we can all do it together. 

Have a Happy July!

Yours with love,

    Helene

  July, 2021