Kindness

BY MICHAEL REISIG –

Kindness is a universal language – it doesn’t matter what race you are or what religion you adhere to, you are in tune with it. The blind can see it and the deaf can hear it. The concept of kindness is simply the act of offering a benevolence – nothing asked, nothing expected. But the strange thing about charity of any sort, is that it has a unique way of finding its way back to the bestower.

When I first got into the book-writing business, none of the authors further up the food chain wanted to help me. I remember speaking with a fairly successful writer – someone I held in esteem. I began to ask him questions and basically he told me that, he wished me the best of luck, but he just didn’t have time to help me. He was just too busy. That made a remarkable impression on me – realizing, that to him, I represented an interruption at best, or a possible rival… I swore I would never be like that – I would share what I learned.

I can say honestly I’ve helped dozens and dozens of authors over the years, and the odd thing is, I’m absolutely amazed at how many times I’ve benefited from it. I can’t remember once when it harmed me. The example that stands out most took place a couple of years ago. He was a new writer just getting into amazon.com. He contacted me via email and in the process I willingly gave him the tricks of the trade, and sent him a free copy of the writer’s handbook I had written.

It turned out that he was somewhat of a genius regarding marketing. He soon became remarkably adept at amazon.com book promotions and became a top seller practically overnight. Because I had helped him when he was green, he shared much of his knowledge with me, and my profits increased commensurately. Kindness – you never know where it will take you. I was reminded that in life you have to know how to treasure kindness – to give it without hesitation, how to lose it without regret, and how to acquire it with grace.

Sometimes kindness is just going the extra distance and loving people more than they deserve – what have you got to lose, really? A lot of times, what folks need are not the suggestions of a remarkable intellect, but a good heart that listens, or a random, inexplicable act of kindness. You never know when you might be the single fortuity that tips the scales of life for someone.

Be reminded that everyone you meet is fighting a battle of some sort, and that there is a magic in kindness that offers strength without payment. More often than not, it is witnessing a few remarkable moments of courage, selflessness, or kindness that redirects the future for individuals.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the ancient Greek fabulist, Aesop: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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