Here at Charity for Hope, we like to practice what we preach. Everyday we make strides towards radiating positivity and love to everyone around us. Sometimes even the smallest gestures can make a BIG difference in someone’s life. Today (and everyday) we ask YOU to try to share loving-kindness in any way you can, whether it is offering a helping hand or a sharing a smile.
We have come up with a list of five of our favorite quotes and sayings to inspire you to practice kindness and to pass it on to others!
“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”—Aesop
It’s a crazy thing to think that Aesop lived in Ancient Grecian times because his message about kindness is so fitting for todays day and age. We often walk around consumed in our own thoughts and forget about all the people who are around us. We snap at other drivers in traffic and we look the other way when we see a homeless person on a street corner. But the truth is, Aesop totally knew what he was talking about way back in the BC era. We allow ourselves to think that small acts of kindness or small donations will not help the world be a better place, but they do, and they will. If we add all these “small” donations or “small” gestures of kindness together, we will find the key to improving the lives of those around us.
“If you get, give. If you learn, teach.” – Maya Angelou
We have been told to count our blessings since we were toddlers in diapers, but sometimes we forget that even the smallest things we receive or learn are blessings. The clothes on our backs and the food in our bellies are two very important blessings we receive daily, but how many times do we forget to thank the person who gives them to us? Everyday we learn new things, but never acknowledge how lucky we are to attain knowledge. Maya Angelou asks us to give, just as we have been given, and to teach, just as we have been taught. Everyday we can make a conscious decision to spread generosity. Just as we have been given nourishment, it would be great for us to also feed the bellies of the hungry! Just as we have learned, we can offer our knowledge to those around us! Go out and give!
“If we really want to love, we must learn to forgive.”—Mother Teresa
Forgiveness brings endless benefits to our lives and the lives of those around us. Not only does it help promote health and happiness, but it allows us to really open up to love. It is through the consistent act of forgiveness that we can learn to love. Holding onto grudges makes us feel angry and prevents us from feeling the mental and physical benefits of forgiving and forgetting. Once we learn to forgive others, we will be able to make strides towards being more loving and compassionate people. Mother Teresa was a model for love and if we follow in her footsteps, we too can become models of kindness for others.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” –Dalai Lama
As citizens of todays world, we are all consumed by the idea of happiness. How can we maximize happiness? Will a new car, the latest tech gadget, or a new relationship get us to a state of happiness more quickly? We love this quote by the Dalai Lama because he has let us in on the secret surrounding happiness: practicing compassion. Everyday we must be kind to ourselves and those around us in order to be happy. Even to those we do not know or those we shy away from, we must acknowledge with compassion. Kindness is contagious and the more we practice it, the more likely we are to experience true happiness.
“Always be a little kinder than necessary.” – J.M Barrie
J.M Barrie was the wondrous creator of Peter Pan, but that is not the reason we have ranked this quote as one of our top five most inspirational quotes. As a nonprofit charity, we are advocates for always showing kindness to everyone. One way we can always ensure we are being kind to each other is to always be MORE kind than we think we need to be. By practicing this, we can ensure we are always kind to the people around us. Be kind: everyone deserves it.
Charity for Hope is an organization that believes in the power of kindness, compassion, patience, forgiveness, and generosity. We believe in practicing these qualities everyday in order to live a healthy and fruitful life.
Stay inspired by actively spreading kindness throughout your day.
Charity for Hope