The Kindness Chronicles

Ideas to help us make the world a better place!

Guess what? We're born good. We're born with a desire to help. I knew that already, but science is starting to understand it too. Between my daughter's fascination with neuroscience and my favorite podcast, Radiolab, I'm more than a little bit hooked on reading brain studies. Dr. Richard Davidson is doing research that leads him to believe that we are naturally attracted to altruism and that we can train our brains to be happy. If you have a minute, read this post of his, asking us to simply notice the good things more often. 

Little kindnesses:

Some things are so easy that I don't even notice I'm doing them until someone points it out.
I'm on Facebook a lot. I make it a point to only post helpful, positive links.
I try my very best to never whine in public.

When I make a meal that freezes well I always make a triple batch. One gets eaten later and one ends up going to someone who could use it. I freeze things in zip-loc bags so recipients don't have to return dishes.

On a recent teaching trip I was up and down on airplanes all day long. I left at least one, sometimes two, little notes tucked away in magazines in the seat pockets. I hope they make someone smile. It made me smile just to sneak them in and think of someone reading them. I think we get more out of serving others than we realize!

Bigger kindnesses:

I helped a young woman who wanted to alter and combine two different patterns to make a dress for her to wear to the temple. It only took an hour or so (it was a pretty simple pattern) and I think she will do a great job sewing it up. I think many of you could do the same kind of thing - make yourself available to get someone started sewing. Teach them the basics of how to use thier machine.

Check out what these friends are doing:

Linda Kittmer

Lisa's blog "something about nothing"

Linda Teddlie Minton

New Zealand artist Catherine Parkinson
The indomitable Jane LaFazio
Tracie Lyn Huskamp
Hannah Koch
Deborah

Please join me in the Kindness Chronicles. Grab a button here and post it on your blog.
Send me a note and tell me what you are doing and I'll link to your blog next month!