In a time like this when most of what we are seeing and hearing are the horrible actions of humans, it is good to share news of good works by our peers and other people in the world. The goal of social media isn't only to spread the news of strife, suffering, violence, and terrorism but to also share news of love, kindness, goodness, and hope. I want to share with you an act of kindness by Blessing Bassey, the founder of Authentic B Foundation and her team because I think they are inspirational and motivational. On Friday, November 13, 2015 - World Kindness Day, Blessing and her team visited schools, a home for aging people, and a police station to spread love, speak and help people with needs, hand out gifts, and pray for them. You have no clue what a tiny act of kindness can do to a person. Sometimes, just a smile can change a person's perspective of life and give an individual a ray of hope.
Blessing Bassey is from Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. She resides and works as a lawyer in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. She is described by her friends and colleagues as a kind, God fearing, and fun loving person.
She wrote a piece in commemoration of the 2015 World Kindness Day. Here it is below.
KINDNESS
Like Blessing, I urge each and every one of us to be kind and spread love. Find Blessing Bassey on instagram as @authenticb900
KINDNESS
by Blessing Bassey
Kindness can be defined as “the quality of being friendly, generous
and considerate.” Our world today is full of evils like mischief, anger,
selfishness and cruelty. These mannerisms are seeds that take root when sown by
one person, and quickly propagates to the next, making the world a toxic forest
of negativity. Kindness is the forest fire the world needs to burn away these
undesirable trees.
It is sad to see that many people neglect this
modest, yet effective fire of kindness. We must receive with gratitude every
opportunity to show kindness, as it is the much-needed warmth in this cold
world. Simple acts like a helping hand here and there, a show of compassion,
encouraging words and a friendly smile are enough to turn around an already
ruined day for someone. These acts remind people that they are loved and needed,
which in turn repairs their bruised confidence and self-worth.
Now and again, people experience difficulties in
their lives, stemming from their career, education, relationships, family,
faith etc. These difficulties make them forget other people and get engrossed
in their problems, leading to a negative reaction of selfishness. A selfish
generation is the last thing the world needs today. Everyone, regardless of his
or her situation must embrace kindness, as acts of kindness never go futile.
Kindness reflects positively on the lives of both the doer and recipient. On
one hand, the recipient is overwhelmed with feelings of joy and delight, while
the doer is satiated with feelings of warmth and compassion. These positive
reflections contribute immensely to making a world a better place to live in.
It would be very selfish to limit kindness to only
humans. As a matter of fact, kindness is the driving force of the universe. All
living beings that exist in nature respond to this language of kindness. Mute
animals wag their tails in appreciation of kindness shown to them by their
owners; plants grow, flourish and bear fruits also in appreciation of the
kindness of their caretaker. Nature itself shows kindness by giving the sun,
rains, seasons, etc. thereby sustaining the life of all its inhabitants.
Synonyms of kindness include altruism, benevolence,
care, compassion, consideration, hospitality, magnanimity, and warmth. In all
its variations, kindness is undisputedly considered a virtue by all religions.
It is a variant of love, which is deemed the ‘greatest virtue’ in the Christian
faith. It shouldn’t be regarded as a mere religious obligation, but should
rather be imbibed in all spheres of life, be it in the family, neighbourhood,
work, and even in business, because selfless deeds usually yield favourable
rewards.
Popular American author Mark Twain once defined
kindness as “the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” He
couldn’t be further from the truth as this language transcends boundaries and
is comprehended by all. We must embrace kindness as a way of life, a habit, a
common attribute rather than a rare trait. When this is done, we would have
re-kindled the dying fire in our world today. No matter how small the act,
always make a point of showing kindness to others and yourself.
Written in Commemoration of 2015 World Kindness
Day (Friday, November 13th)
By
AUTHENTIC B FOUNDATION
Inspiring the U in You
Like Blessing, I urge each and every one of us to be kind and spread love. Find Blessing Bassey on instagram as @authenticb900
I totally agree. It's good to see people doing wonderful things that impact people positively.
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