[Update February 10, 2025]

A Message that will Change Your Life

You probably know Jonna Jinton. But have you seen this video? If not, you should definitely check it out. I saw it almost exactly two years ago and just came across it again. It features kind messages from people all over the world. Kindness from heart to heart. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsKWoCJ3eq4

Every form of creative expression, whether through writing, art, colors, or images, whether in the spotlight or hidden away, adds value to our world. It brings inspiring ideas and actions that enhance beauty and make life more enjoyable. Imagine!

 

Photo credit: The Imagine plaque located in Strawberry Fiels, New York, as a tribute to John Lennon. Photograph by Ramy Majouji (Creative Common Licence)

--

[Update February 3, 2025]

Did you know that groups of people meditating can actually lower crime rates? It's backed by science!

I first read about it a few years ago in Pierre Franck's book "The Law of Resonance". For example, here a study: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/671086.

It's a wonderful act of kindness. What works on a large scale also works on a small scale. A kind act that anyone can practice easily without any fuss — for your own peace of mind and far beyond.

Inspired by a class of Irina Trzaskos, this peace dove here was created to get in the mood for before mentioned Global Peace Meditation. — What a wonderful gift that we, as humans, have the opportunity to enjoy and welcome art in many forms in our lives.

 

--

[Update January 27, 2025]

Peace is possible! Be part of the big event. It's free:
https://global-peace-meditation.com/en/

 

--

[Update January 26, 2025]

Nearly a decade ago, I anonymously placed a sheet of self-adhesive labels saying "No Advertising Please" on the bulletin board in my apartment building for my neighbors to use. This initiative was well-received and led to a significant decrease in the amount of paper waste, which was evident in the overflowing recycling bin near the entrance. (I often emptied it while taking out my trash, easing the cleaning staff's workload.)

During that time, I made experiences as a recipient of anonymous kindness by myself after jogging in a nearby park; someone frequently hit the buzzer to open the door for me upon my return. This warm memory still brings me joy and gratitude.

These secret acts of kindness seem to have a lasting impact, as their mystery obviously keeps our brains engaged. So, to create lasting memories of any kind, it might be helpful to write them down. Documenting positive experiences, like in a journal or a reused jar, can help during tough times. (Imagine a jar, similiar the idea jar in Lucy's class "Peculiar Prompts for All-Round Creatives", filled with lovely memories. — You’ll be surprised at how many there are when you simply shift your focus to them. This practice might also aids in putting life’s challenges into the right perspective.)

It’s said that five positive memories are needed to counteract one negative, highlighting the importance of kindness once more.

The conclusion is simple: More acts of kindness!


--

[Update September 19, 2024]

Gardening in harmony with nature. Every square meter counts! Whether in your own garden, on the balcony, or by using seed bombs while on the go, there are countless small acts of kindness that can be taken to support biodiversity.

--

Love your neighbor as yourself.
It's important to find balance and take care of your own needs first, too. Those who often help others may forget to take time for themselves. So, remember to also look after yourself and treat yourself to something nice.

 

==

About 15 years ago, my mother gave me Eckhart von Hirschhausen's "Glück kommt selten allein" (means: luck seldom comes alone). Not a typical self-help book; instead, more a collection of inspiring thoughts. I think I got the idea from it to leave a penny behind on my journeys since then. Or as shown on the cover image, to leave them in more unusual places, acting as a symbolic bringer of good luck.

For me, this book was the beginning of many more like it, igniting a more engaged way of perceiving the world and, consequently, inspiring actions such as also sharing these books once read — much like the previously mentioned lucky penny — left in various places for anyone to take freely.

Kind acts, whether deliberate or random, visible or hidden, essentially represent a modern interpretation of the "Golden Rule", a principle echoed across various faiths: Treat others as you wish to be treated.

With a strong sense of values, this should be a given (sadly, it's not). Just like this class here, which provides an incredibly important impulse.
Soul empowerment at its best!

Good deeds can be incredibly fulfilling and enriching, especially when emerging from the present moment and straight from the heart. Without any expectations or making anyone feel awkward.

For instance, a few years back, I noticed an elderly woman living in the ground-floor apartment of my neighbor's house. She tended to a small patch of flowers in front of her balcony, and her joy was palpable. She mentioned how the garbage truck sometimes carelessly damaged it. Inspired by her words, I secretly bought a small wooden border for that flower bed.

Another example is picking up litter. In front of my house, in my yard, or anywhere else. For a while now, I've been taking a trash bag and some gloves specially for this purpose.

For me, this also includes the respectful burial of animals found deceased. I’ve been doing this since I was a child, but that’s certainly not for everyone.

At its core, it is all about the essence of seeing and being seen, capturing fleeting moments, and seizing opportunities. It focuses on mindfulness and harmonious interactions with others, ourselves, and our environment — the place where we would love to live.

But even the simplest gestures in our daily lives can make a difference.

Whether it’s offering a genuine, warm smile to the grumpy cashier at the supermarket, holding the door open for someone who’s still a few steps away, or giving a heartfelt compliment — each day presents us with the opportunity to perform a good deed.

With every kind gesture, we amplify this energy exponentially.

So let us be kind, for the world is in dire need of it. And on those days when kindness feels out of reach, let us pretend and imagine it. Together, we can make our world friendlier and so much more interesting, and we will all gain from living in it.

Together, we can do it. Come and join!