Helpful Ways to Show Kindness and Respect to Others

With all the violence, cynicism and negativity on TV today, it helps to reach out to others and do our part to be kind. It doesn’t take much, just a little effort to boost another person’s day, as well as help ourselves as well. Doing well for others helps us to improve our own self esteem. We need to restore some of the friendliness and peace that has been lost in society due to war, politics and problems. If we band together and help one another out just a little, it will make the tough times seem just a little less difficult for us and those that we help.

If you see someone stranded on the side of the road with car problems, call for help.

If someone you know is poor and needs food, help them find assistance or bring them something to eat.

Hold the door or elevator for someone who’s lagging behind.

If you see anyone being abusive to another person or animal, call the police.

If you know someone who is alone and in poor health, call to see how they’re doing.

If you don’t want your car anymore and plan to junk it, donate it to the Salvation Army or to a church. Someone somewhere can use it.

Think of what soldiers abroad, far from the comforts of home, might need and send a care package to them.

By being sensitive to other peoples’ problems and needs, we make life better for everyone involved. What you may feel are seemingly insignificant acts of respect or kindness may mean a great deal to someone else. I remember the nice old man who saved me when my old car gave out during rush hour on a bridge over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. High priced cars whizzed by me for awhile, in the hot sun, racing to get home and ignoring me. Then this nice man came, and called for help, then waited to make sure help came for me, which it did. My knight in shining armor came to the rescue in a car that was clearly a rusty old sedan, clearly on its last legs. That was twenty years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday. Now, if I see someone broken down on the side of the road, I pay it forward by calling for help on my cell phone. It feels good to know the person isn’t going to be stranded for long.

It’s important to teach children and teens to respect each other, their elders and animals. By instilling these behaviors early, they will become habit in time so it is important to keep reinforcing them. By rewarding acts of kindness and discouraging aggressive or violent behavior, we build our society in a positive manner. It can be done; we just need to tackle the many obstacles in front of us, together.