A connection of kindness
I had plenty of time to think on the plane coming back home to the UK yesterday. (Not much time to think the entire time I was doing business for Incognito in NYC but hey, it was all worth it).
What I was thinking about is this crazy, beautiful world we live in. After all the recent, terrible tragedies that have happened, and are happening, this world needs as much kindness as it can get.
I read an article, which appeared in the HuffPost written by Macky Alston, which made me reflect on all who believe in freedom and are hoping that 2015 is the year that future history books and major motion pictures show that we stood as communities and as a nation for justice for all.
I’ve mentioned before about the ‘Pay it Forward’ initiative and it struck me that after all this tragedy, sadness, crime and hysteria I just need to do something, something just plain old nice. It’s not very cool to be nice, some people equate nice with boring, but I don’t think that’s right – nice is being decent and civil and respectful. That sounds pretty wonderful to me.
In my job I get to sing timeless tunes which spread joy, I get to put smiles on people’s faces, and together with other performers at Incognito, we give them a delightful, unforgettable experience. That’s precious. I am honoured and grateful to be able to sing and provide a service that generates happiness (and most of the time, get paid for it!)
But I want to do something more than that. In the hope of paying it forward, and just doing something kind amidst all this horror regularly unfolding in our world, I want to hear from you. The first 10 people who reply to me and say ‘one team one dream’ will receive a surprise from me at some point during 2015 – anything from a book, a ticket, something home-grown, homemade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise. There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy.
Maybe you feel like you want to take this on yourself and pay it forward to people in your life? I invite you to consider it. Wouldn’t it be ‘nice’ if we can form a connection of kindness to show that each voice counts, each person can do something – big or small – even just in their thinking, to contribute to peace in our glorious world.
Here’s to more nice and loving things in 2015, without any reason other than to make each other smile and show that we think of each other. Here’s to a more enjoyable, friendly, positive and love-filled year …
‘Love is all around me and so the feeling grows’. (I just watched ‘Love Actually’ again at Christmas, great film!)
Geoff
P.S. The current world news may not inspire optimism, but I’m the eternal optimist, and this study is a good reminder that positive thinking affects your heart health. So do your bit to make the world, and yourself, a healthier place.
Using the American Heart Association’s criteria, a study of 5,000 adults found that the most optimistic people had twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health as their pessimistic counterparts –
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150109123502.htm
