From Mother Teresa’s description of kindness as “a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand” to Aristotle’s allegory of love as an instrument tuned with the eyes of the soul, we began to wonder how much better this world would be if decisions were solely based on an altruistic heart. The great composer Igor Stravinsky once said, “I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it.” Through the solemn act of emotion, a normal man, fascinated by the string of a note, raised himself beyond the measures of expected performance towards a plateau of infinite knowledge and wisdom. Perfection accomplished through the motivation of listening and loving. Beyond the domain of music, one can truly gain a lesson from this composer on how to conduct our life, not based on what we see, but rather on how we feel.

Many of us claim to know all the mysteries and knowledge this world has to inquire about. If so, why have we not realized the power and reward of kindness? All this is due to the constant misunderstanding of its true nature. Being kind is an art, a lifestyle of the soul. Most people are able to donate money towards various charities, but is money the source of kindness, the root of love or the core of happiness? As the famous quote goes, “love does not cost a thing.” By displaying a genuine smile to your friends, neighbors or to a bus driver, you can sufficiently determine whether or not they have a good day. Given with sincerity, a single, long–stemmed rose can be more meaningful than a dozen of the most expensive orchids.

The price of admission to a fabulous sunset is still free. When one reminisces about the most cherished moments, their contemplation takes them back to a feeling of warmth and joy that they felt, not a sight because the best things in life are free. We do not have to be rich to develop this lifestyle of kindness … all of the happiness and fulfillment we want can be ours right now simply by altering and changing the importance of what we see, by how we feel. Sight is materialistic and concrete, but the mind travels beyond any palpable border.

Kindness is not an amount
Kindness is a servant who rejoices in the well-being of others without the need for recognition or even worse, a “promotion.” The most divine goals in life are reached by those who choose to serve, because being a servant requires a heart of love, nurtured by seeds of kindness. As described in our book, the Inner Global Village, a brief moment of conversation, combined with proper selection of kind words, can be “tattooed” forever in the heart’s memory.

Kindness is about forgiving and forgetting
At a recent event that we attended, noted educator, Dr. David Simone said that “we must learn to marry forgiveness, we must learn to marry tolerance.” One cannot truly forget unless he/she has learned to forgive. To bridge from master to servant, to enjoy this transition toward greatness, we must not only forgive but also not fail to forget past mistakes. If we carry with us the burden of the past, if we are stuck with all the luggage of past mistakes, if we are attached to the harbor of negative memories, we will never achieve the freedom of sailing the sea of improvement and will never enjoy the flight toward the horizon of the soul.

Kindness is an art to be woven
Nurturing a tree takes time and conscious effort. The art of kindness works in the same way. It is a consistent and often arduous quest of bringing joy, creativity, peace, love, excitement and substance into our lives and those around us. The art of kindness requires commitment and motivation because the rewards are not always automatic and the outcome often not immediately apparent.

To be kind, is to be grateful with who we are and with what we have while striving for what we should become… Kindness is about giving without expecting anything in return, because hoping for a reward defies the entire meaning of the act which should be done with no intention of a return favor. It is only when we plant the seeds of the soul that we shall reap the fruits of life. Hence, life responds to “deserves” not to “needs.”

For the kind characters, for the divine heart, giving has an entirely different meaning. Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving one experiences inner strength, abstract wealth and ever-growing power. We receive more joy in giving than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the impression of aliveness and independence. It proves that we are not bound to the obsessions of this world.

Kindness is letting life touch us to transform the world
When St. Augustine was asked about love and kindness, he described eloquently: “Love and kindness have the hands to help others. They have the feat to hasten to the poor and needy. They have the eyes to see misery and want. They have the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of mankind. That’s what love and kindness look like.”

Prince Siddharta Gauthama Buddha, who founded Buddhism continues to be an inspiration to millions because of his pure heart, his totally kind nature and his teachings for overcoming fear and attaining bliss.

St. Francis of Assisi is famous for expressing unbounded love and kindness, extending to the birds, the animals, the flowers and even the lowly worms and bugs. This criterion of unconditional love and kindness for all creatures has made St. Francis of Assisi a role model for peace to millions of people.

There is a world of difference between going to a place and experiencing a place. The former is a basic physical activity while the latter is a divine emotional event. To feel life, to water and fertilize our heart, to experience our soul, we must not only go through the positive experiences, but also be touched by the sorrows, the sadness, the losses and the longings. To live a unique life, and to become unique individuals, we must surrender ourselves into this beautiful and colorful web of human drama and experience the broader range of mankind’s emotions. It is only through sowing the seeds of kindness that life will exude the forever scent of roses.

Kindness is the key to inner peace and happiness
The most peaceful and the happiest of all men and women are those who continually look for ways to show love, kindness and affection toward the people around them. Not only are they the most loved and respected by others, but they are also the healthiest and blessed of all human beings.

Throughout the ages, the wisest men and women have come to the conclusion that nothing is more important than love and kindness. Since you are self- responsible individual, it is up to you to improve the quality of not only your life but also the quality of all mankind by enhancing and improving your expression of love and kindness to the people in our world.