Being a Good Traveling Companion

        A new blog will be posted each Monday, Wednesday and Friday

         Hope you had a great weekend. 
         I see I've had a few visits to this site this morning.  I'm thinking it must be my east coast followers.  I'll try to get this out a little earlier for you!
         On Friday I wrote about traveling in good company.  It's great when we have friends, neighbors and family who are so very thoughtful.  Such people have certainly been a great blessing in my life.  But I often ask myself, "What am I doing for others?" 
         I hope I'm a thoughtful neighbor and friend because, honestly, how hard is it for me to brighten someone's day or lighten their load?  An old retired gal, I'm at home now, taking care of my husband. That consumes a good deal of time on some days.  But on others, I certainly can spend a few minutes or hours doing the little things that would be helpful to my friends, or even a stranger in need.  I find that little acts of kindness are a wonderful way to say "thank you" to those who have done nice things for me, or simply to serve in my neighborhood and community.
         Some people call such service "random acts of kindness."  I like that term because it signifies that, as we develop a mindset of service to others, we find opportunities all over the place to do nice things.  We don't need an organized plan, or to make an appointment.  We begin to see needs, or we see opportunities to help out, and we just spring into action.
         How refreshing and uplifting would it be if we lived in a world where people saw ways of brightening the day for another and acted on it; a world where selfishness was a rare thing and service was the norm?  Frankly, when I see all that others do for me, I think I'm already living in that world, but I know that I can do better at reciprocating.
         So what do you say, those of you who follow this blog?  What random acts of kindness have you enjoyed doing for another?  Have you known:

• A widow who was blessed by your visit? 
• A busy mom who got downright giddy over a couple of hours to herself? 
• A teen who benefited from your listening ear?
• A neighbor who was ill and appreciated having a meal brought in?
• Someone in the hospital who enjoyed a visit?
• An elderly person who felt safer because you offered your companionship during his evening walk?
• One of your children who gobbled up some one-on-one time with you?
• Someone who was blessed as you shared a talent you have?

You probably have participated in many ways of helping others to travel through life more joyfully.  Those ways are as diverse and creative as any one of the many personalities who think them up.  And each of those acts not only blesses the person being remembered, it also makes the day of the giver brighter, too.  I honestly don't believe we can do an act of kindness without benefiting from it ourselves.  In fact, research shows that when we say or do something positive it releases beneficial hormones into our system, keeping us calmer, younger and healthier.  I'm for that!  I remember a well known doctor once saying that positive words increase the seratonin (a feel good hormone) levels of those who are standing nearby and simply overhear a positive conversation.
         Well, I looked out this morning and noticed the sky is a little gray.  It's a little cloudy out there.  So what can I do today to bring some sunshine into the world?
         As we travel the road of life, I hope that we'll frequently experience the uplift that comes from blessing another.  It will lighten our load and bring the glorious light of joy into the life of someone else; and in an extraordinary and wonderful way, it will also brighten the world!



TODAY'S GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT:
                                Help someone else along the way.