Give a Penny: Kindness Strikes Again

For once a news story put a smile on my face. It was an example of pure kindness which I believe we see too little of in this world. Too often our kindness is directed by others or motivated by external factors. We want to look good or feel good – I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. If it’s gets us giving then I’m all for it. I just think that pure acts of goodness can sometimes feel few and far between in this messed up world we live in.

The story goes as follows. A group of 3 children (Stephen, Kenzie and Kaden) were spotted in Liverpool giving the money they had begged for the Penny for the Guy to a homeless man. The photograph subsequently went viral on the internet when it was uploaded by a stranger and has been shared over 10,000 times.

It seems I’m not the only one who believes we need to see more acts of human kindness out there in the world. We all talk about making the world a better place. But how many of us are truly committed to this cause? Although it’s true we can’t help everyone – I have to hold back from buying a meal for everyone I see on the street – if I’m honest, I could do more. I’m not going to hit myself over the head about it though, I think I’m in good company.

It can be hard given the financial pressures most of us face nowadays to give of our money, or even our time. Many of us are staying at work well beyond our contracted hours (not good for our well being at. all.) and barely find the time to clean the house or see family without the addition of volunteering.

These (sometimes) big asks isn’t what I mean when I say we can do more; it’s the little things. The things that go unnoticed by the majority of people. The things that don’t take time, energy or money in big amounts. It’s buying the Big Issue (a hand -up, not a handout) on sporadic occasions – or every week – helping someone cross the road, stopping to give directions, even smiling. It’s sounds like common sense and that’s because it is.

The bottom line is we could all go out of our way – a little – to make this world a better place.

This post may have been short and sweet but so were the kids who donated their hard begged-for cash to a homeless man.

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