A Glass Full of Water

Cleaning public toilets has to be a hard job at the best of times…  While out walking in Raglan I often thank the people that clean these toilets. Calling out “Thanks!” with a smile and a wave is always returned with a smile and wave back. What about thanking the cleaning staff working around you at the end of your work day? Most cleaning staff are genuinely surprised that someone notices the work they are doing. On some hot days Val will hand out cold cans of fizzy drink to the local rubbish truck workers. Shouts of thanks reverberate around our street.  POINTS to PONDER Take a moment to thank people for their work. Don’t treat them as invisible minions. Any job done well is worthy of praise. If you ever stay in a hotel or motel, take a moment to commend the staff for their work. They are not ‘servants’ and they often work unsociable hours and have multiple jobs. My experience has been that they are genuinely delighted that the worth of their work is recognised and valued...

Sometimes being kind doesn’t seem to work and when this happens it can be confusing and hurtful. I recall such a time… Driving on a main arterial route in Hamilton I noticed ahead of me a man pushing his car. I pulled my car over to the side of the road and ran over to help. Placing my hands on the boot I pushed too. The car was on a slight uphill incline, so my help was surely going to make a difference.  You know that sense you have when something isn’t quite right with the world. Well, unexpectedly he curtly said “Get your hands off my car!” Startled, I  replied. “Excuse me?” Making sure I heard correctly he said in a more forceful voice. “I told you once. I don’t want your help. Go away!”  I backed away, bewildered. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to push his car by himself. I just wanted to do the right thing. To help him. POINTS to PONDER Sometimes our desire to help isn’t wanted or appreciated. Get over yourself if this happens.  We do not know what...

  A GLASS FULL OF WATER is a blog ABOUT US, whoever we are and wherever we may be in the world. It is about KINDNESS. It is full of personal observations, experiences and insights about caring for people in our daily lives. Opportunities to be kind, thoughtful, compassionate and empathetic are all around us. I guess it’s about doing little things with a lot of love. Kindness can be about being friendly, generous, considerate and putting other people before ourselves. Sometimes to be kind means to be courageous and sometimes it’s showing strength in the face of pain and grief. My blog is not sensational nor should it be. Showy kindness is never mentioned. I have included no on-going images to match the stories. All stories are real and carry their own truths. I have been a part of many of the stories and so have my family, friends and neighbours. Much of my sharing is about the importance of relationship and connection. Hopefully each story is quietly inspiring and for some stories...