Shari Della Penna
  • Home
  • About
    • My family
    • My work
    • My favorites
    • FAQ's
  • Contact
  • Blog

"Small acts of kindness can change and humanise our world."
   Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks 1948-2020
   ​Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, 1991-2020
                         Author, Advocate, Advisor

A Cup o' Kindness

3/7/2017

2 Comments

 
. . .it’s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. . . we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness.
 
                                                                  from: Wonder
                                                                  by: R.J. Palacio
                                                          Alfred A. Knopf, 2012
 
       In about second grade, two of my friends and I started a Kindness Club. I don’t remember doing anything especially kind, but we were nice to each other. Once a week we went to each other’s houses for lunch. 
       Sometimes it’s a tall order to be kind. I have to think about it and work at it. Lots of people tell me I’m nice, but that’s not the same thing.
       When I was pretty new to town, I had a friend who was organized, involved in her children’s lives and in the community. She always had time to invite her friends to her home for dinner, make casseroles for new neighbors, participate in the PTO.
       Once, when I was the recipient of one of her generous dinners, I asked her how she got so much stuff done. Her answer changed my life.
       "I always have time to do what I love to do." She sounded so matter-of-fact.
       Oh.
       I had been spending my time with two young children, a new town and a failing marriage (although I didn’t acknowledge that, yet) avoiding the things I hated to do. Doing what I loved was a new idea for me. First I needed to discover what exactly it was that I loved. I’m still working on it. It changes. A moving target.
       Today I visited an old friend in a nursing home.. She’s in her 90s AND I’ve known her for over 30 years, so both kinds of old. She’s feeling very weak and looks very frail. When I walked in, she smiled. We had a nice chat. I found her Chapstick which was not where it was supposed to be and gave her a drink of water, twice. I didn’t feel especially kind. I just wanted to see her and visit for a little while. Maybe that is kindness. Or maybe it’s just doing what I love.
       National Random Acts of Kindness Day was February 17. But that was the week of the Westminster Dog Show. And they had cats this year!
       So even though my timing is a little off, I'm sure it’s always the right time to be kind! 
 
                                                                  --stay curious! 
2 Comments
Rabbi Saul Oresky
3/8/2017 12:36:12 am

Another beautiful and thoughtful blog, Shari!

Reply
Shari Della Penna
3/8/2017 06:14:41 am

Thanks!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

         I'm a children's writer and poet intent on observing the world and nurturing those I find in my small space .

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly