Eight Kindness Gifts

I came across this wonderful post on a website that struck a chord with me. I felt the need to share these Eight Gifts of Kindness.

The Gift of Listening...

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response, just listening.
The Gift of Affection...
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
The Gift of Laughter...
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
The Gifts of a Written Note...
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, hand-written note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
The Gift of a Compliment...
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.
The Gift of a Favor...
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
The Gift of Solitude...
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.
The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition...
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to say, "Hello" or "Thank you."

- by Isaac Ng, Singapore

Although these gifts seems rather simple, it so easy to see how they can be overlooked. I know there are many times within a day that we "hear" what others have to say, but do we "listen"? When giving a compliment make it sincere and appropriate. The gift of joy and cheerfulness comes from satisfactions and love within ourselves.

For those of you reading this - take a moment and re-read the eight gifts of kindess and pick one to reflect on others!