This month’s theme: APPRECIATION
Happening this Month
World Kindness Day is right around the corner on November 13th! In honor of World Kindness Day Life Vest Inside would love to invite you to take part in our World Kindness Day festivities! Take part in our virtual event on Monday, November 15th, join our global video collaboration and learn this year’s Dance for Kindness dance! Learn more at www.danceforkindness.com
Articles of the Month
Accepting Other People’s Differences – To feel comfortable with people who are different from us means that we must accept ourselves for who we are. Unfortunately, we often put up guards to protect ourselves instead of being open to those differences. Our mistrust of others is really fear, and then acting from that wariness only fuels suspicion back.
Empathy – Accept Others For Who They Are – Acceptance is the ability to see that others have a right to be their own unique persons. That means having a right to their own feelings, thoughts and opinions. When you accept people for who they are, you let go of your desire to change them.
“Acceptance is simply love in practice. When you love, you accept, when you lack love, you judge.”
Abhijit Naskar
“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”
Jeannette Walls
“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.”
Ken Keyes
Act of Kindness
Take time to get to know other people by really listening to them rather than relying on a quick judgment. Assume the role of an explorer and be fascinated by their unique personal traits, background, culture, schooling, and life experiences. See the differences in others as an expression of their exoticness and beauty.
Question of the Month
How do you show acceptance of individual differences? Share here or in the comments below.
Kindness Media
Photo of the Month
How does this picture represent empowerment? Share your thoughts.
Songs of the Month
This song was a response to the hate and fear generated after the 9/11 attacks. Urging people to love one another, and questioning why so much hate exists in the world, a pertinent reminder that we should extend love to people of all races and religions.
We are all imperfect, and it’s precisely those imperfections that make us who we are, and we have to embrace them because there’s so much beauty in those differences. Life is worth fighting for. You are worth fighting for.
This emotional country ballad from 2014 is a motivational pep talk. It takes the perspective of someone who has been bullied for being different and who made it through.
Videos of the Month
A deaf girl comes across a boy who is paralyzed from the waist-down, but neither of them know about each other’s differences.
Why is it important that children are taught to respect each other’s differences? Mariana Chartier shares with us her experience in searching for respect and the values she has learnt, even if it is only at 9 years of age.
When you look around – your classroom, the playground, or even your family – does everyone look the same? You’re right, they don’t, but if you pay attention you’ll realize we are much more similar than you think.
Books of the Month
BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life – Julie Saffrin – Rather than a general attitude of thankfulness, BlessBack discusses how important it is to actually tell the special people in your life how grateful you are for them. It combines research with practical advice to help you show people how much you appreciate them.
Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey – A.J. Jacobs – After realizing that hundreds of people contribute labor to getting his morning cup of coffee grown, roasted, and transported to him, he set out on a journey to thank every single one of them. His journey teaches him about many things, including how interconnected we all are.
Appreciate: Celebrating People, Inspiring Greatness – David Sturt – Appreciation is everywhere. It’s actually a cornerstone of society existing in every culture on Earth since the beginning of time. Statues are erected of people who impacted our world. Buildings and parks are named after great community leaders. Ceremonies celebrate the achievements of people in nearly every category or endeavor the military, education, and athletics. But, still, we don’t see enough appreciation in the one place where it is needed most: at work.
The Acrobat – Alborozo – A circus acrobat feels unappreciated. He tries to capture the attention of children playing in a park by juggling, balancing and pretending to fall. After being ignored, he feeds the birds and grabs everyone’s attention when he is covered with colourful birds.
The Giving Tree – Shel Silverstein – Over the course of a boy’s life, he asks a tree to help him and she gives him everything she has. It is only on reflection, as an old man, he feels gratitude and thankfulness towards the tree.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee – Philip C. Stead – Zookeeper, Amos McGee, always found time to visit his good friends in unique and compassionate ways. One day, Amos wakes up with a cold and can’t make it into work. His friends, the tortoise, penguin and owl, return his kindness by visiting him.