What a wonderful world…
treating everyone like it's their birthday
“Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again...”
I have been blessed this week.
It started with flowers and homemade treats at work, eating out with friends (more than once!), phone calls, birthday cards, texts and being able to spend a few days (including my actual birthday) with my son, watching our favorite shows and sports and just spending time together, talking.
Birthdays are times to celebrate - your blessings, your health, your relationships…
When you are young, you look forward to adding a candle onto your cake, you anticipate the presents (and hoping you get what you asked for) and you enjoy birthday cake and a great meal, prepared with love. Maybe there is even a party shared with friends and family together.
As you age and your life evolves, so do your celebrations. The number of candles are not as important (and sometimes you would rather not think about how many there are), the presents are enjoyed but maybe not with as much glee and you view things more as a reflection than with the excitement that you had when you were younger.
Still you realize that the simplest pleasures are actually the best gifts and that includes the actual feeling that you receive from others who recognize your special day, and, in essence, recognize you and what a gift your existence in this world truly is.
Back when I was teaching, I used to show my students a YouTube series several years ago made by a young man who called himself Kid President. He had a series of “life lesson” videos that encouraged children to be the best version of themselves, including showing kindness whenever possible.
He had one video entitled, “Treat everyone like it’s their birthday.” I loved that concept because it was simple yet very sweet.
What if we did just that? What if we focused on speaking to every person we met with the same kindness and love we receive on our birthdays?
Being kind isn’t an unusual act. In fact, if you observe the innocence of young children, you see that we are born with the natural instinct to be open and kind to those around us.
Many of the negative traits human beings express - hatred, anger, prejudice, etc. are learned behaviors and are choices we make.
So why not make positive choices like kindness? Why not look at every person you meet and pretend it’s their birthday…and treat them like that?
This thought also reminds me of a favorite song of mine, What a Wonderful World. As you read the lyrics below, just imagine the kind of world we can make if we just treat each the way we would want to be treated…
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying, “I love you”
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
What do you think?
My support comes from my subscribers and I really appreciate it. If you enjoy what the Kindness Boomerang newsletter provides, please feel free to share this link on your social media. Subscriptions can be either free or paid. It’s a simple process of sharing your email address. Thanks for your support!
For information about why I started this newsletter, please go to the about section.
Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:
This week’s Smile video…
At Clemson University in South Carolina, the ClemsonLIFE program gives students with intellectual disabilities a chance to learn life skills for independent living. But as much as the program offers, junior Charlie McGee wanted the whole college experience -- including joining a fraternity. Steve Hartman goes "On the Road" for a story on the rewards of kindness and acceptance.
#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove
What I am reading…
This week I read a beautiful book entitled One. the mind aware, and it is filled with inspirational photos and quotes. This book was given to me by my late friend and mentor, Sister Agnes.
She gave it to me for Christmas in 2020 and I pull it out from time to time to look at and inspire me.
The Amazon description is as follows, “This stunningly beautiful coffee table book is a collection of reflections from some of the greatest teachers and minds the world has known paired with original works of art that reflects the theme of, and need for, human unity.
Quotations from people across the world, across cultures and time, are offered here like mantras to soak deep into awareness. Fifty-one rich illustrations are companions to help interiorize this beautiful experience. Our hope is that an individual can spend time with, reflect upon, and use the book to tap into a deeper part of themselves, those depths that ignite and transform us.”
How to Change the World
In today's adventure, Kid President explores people's different ideas about how to make the world better. What do you think is the best way to change the world?
What I am watching this week…
If you enjoy politics but you need to take a break from the news (which is probably a good idea) I would suggest the political thriller Designated Survivor on Netflix.
As a lower-level cabinet member, Tom Kirkman never imagined something would happen that would catapult him to the oval office. When a devastating attack on the night of the State of the Union address claims the lives of the president and most of the Cabinet, the Housing and Urban Development secretary -- who was named the designated survivor in case of such an event -- finds himself promoted to leader of the free world.
This is an action-packed series with an outstanding cast and cliff-hangers galore.
Interesting thoughts…
13 Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso
1. Be sincere.
2. Stay teachable
3. See good in others
4. Happiness is a choice
5. Winning is an attitude
6. Have confidence in yourself
7. Optimists take more chances,
8. Everyone differs from everyone else
9. Courage is the willingness to attempt
10. Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness
11. Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing
12. Be curious, not judgmental
13. Be a goldfish - Don't allow one bad deed define who you are. In less than ten seconds, forget about it like a goldfish.
Mind/Body connections…
Here’s a great video I came across for yoga for overthinking. There are many reasons one may end up in a pattern of overthinking. It can be hard to function when this occurs, and it can be a result of many things going on in our life, as well as living in an overstimulated world. Give this a try!
Comedy Lift…
I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here’s the Beatles’ song Birthday...Enjoy!
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….
I wish there were more Ted Lassos! Great post!
Loved this! Thank you for the wonderful post, Sheila!