| Sept 3rd: Kind Words |
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Sept 03, 2007 Intention: Kind Words * download a pdf copy of this intention to print out, or share with a friend. QUOTES ABOUT KIND WORDS "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother Teresa “ Our small efforts at kindness can change people's lives more than we will ever know. Since it takes so little time and energy to change the world for the better, why not make an effort to do it every day?" - Pat Williams "Kindness is like fresh-fallen snow; it makes beautiful everything that it covers." -- Anonymous "The kinder and more thoughtful a person is, the more kindness he/she can find in other people." NOTES AND THOUGHTS If you catch yourself using unkind words, stop, breathe, and think of how to rephrase your communication. Personal Story: I would like to share a story about a time in my life when words, both kind and unkind made a lasting impression. When I was six years old I lived in a neighborhood where all the children were of Anglo-Saxon descent. In a sea of fair skinned and light eyed kids, my dark complexion stood out. On the playground a few mean spirited kids would shout, “nigger…nigger…you’re a nigger…” One day while I was on the playground two kids approached me and thrust a bar of soap into my face, “The reason you’re so brown is because you’re dirty. You’re brown and dirty. You need a bath.” That day I asked my mom, between sobs, “Am I dirty? They said that I’m dirty.” My mother, who always kept me well groomed, was appalled. She brushed my hair and said, “You’re not dirty. Those kids are mean and stupid. Some day they’re going to be burning their skin in the sun trying to get a beautiful brown tan like yours.” Crushed by the cruelty of a few unkind classmates, I began to believe that I was ugly. A couple weeks later I fell asleep with gum in my mouth. In the morning my long, one-length hair was tangled with bubble gum. To remove the gum my mother had to give me a haircut. I now had bangs – ewwww! I despised the bangs and felt even uglier. At school I tried to hide myself. I felt icky and I didn’t want anyone to see me, especially Jason, a boy I had a crush on. Around mid-day Jason walked by my desk, looked me straight in the eye and said, “You’re hair looks pretty.” Wow – it brings tears to my eyes to remember that moment. Jason’s simple, kind words carried me through the day. He’ll never know how much it meant for that sad, lonely little girl to hear the words, “You’re hair looks pretty.” __________________________________________________________________________________ Author Credit/Contact Information: For Web (for reprints ALL links must remain active) OR For Print, Radio and TV
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