By Sarah Browning
When I run workshops about kindness I always ask attendees to share their stories and examples.
It’s fascinating how they talk about kindness appearing in just about every setting you can imagine – at home, in the supermarket, on public transport, at their WI group, in the office.
We even had one from a pop concert.
Wherever the conversation starts, it always prompts others in the group to remember something similar or related. Before we know it, we are surrounded by smiles and positive feelings of connection.
That’s the connection to the people in the stories and to each other in the room (or on the screen).
Not just people
Of course, kindness isn’t just restricted to people. Last week someone shared a story of how they had always been drawn to helping animals.
This prompted someone else to talk about a time when their younger sister had saved a bee from a puddle by carefully scooping it up with the spade from her sandpit.
Looking back at my Time for Kindness website, I found plenty of examples that include animals:
• A lady who took in an extra dog over the Christmas holidays because otherwise, it would have been on its own at the clinic over the break – she already had three dogs of her own but was happy to add another to the mix.
• A family who looked after their cousin’s guinea pigs while she was on holiday – they and their hutch moved into the back garden. They needed to be fed, watered and given some exercise in their run.
• At least two kind vets – one who sent a condolence card to a young girl who was upset when her guinea pig died, showing they understood how important her pet was to her; another who accommodated an autistic pet owner’s communication preferences while booking appointments for her dogs.
• A community of friends and strangers who donated to a fundraising page to fund the treatment of a cat who had been hit by a car.
• A couple who helped to rescue a cat that was stuck in a tree near their home.
A two-way street
These stories all involved people showing kindness in one way or another. But as most pet-lovers will tell you, animals often seem to understand their owners and respond to their feelings.
Animals show kindness too.
I’ve often had friends tell me about their cat or dog curling up next to them when they are feeling sad. Dogs in particular get very excited when their owner is excited about something (cats perhaps less so).
One of the kindest animals I’ve heard of is Archie, the ginger cat who visits the hospital near where he lives and comforts the patients and staff in the A&E waiting room. He is renowned as a local hero and brings a lot of smiles to people who are in pain and afraid.
There are many belief systems that see people and animals as being connected. I think kindness is part of that.
Sarah Browning is a Kindness Cheerleader, Communicator and Strategist. For more inspiring stories of kindness, visit: www.timeforkindness.co.uk
