living our best life – kindness

/ simplywendi
white printer paper with be kind text on plants

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Wishing all of you who care for others a very blessed Mothers’ Day Weekend.

In the spirit of caring for others, my question for you today is, “Since becoming chronically ill, what is one of the greatest acts of kindness you have been shown?”  

 

~ Thank you very much for taking time to stop by and comment.  I deeply appreciate the sharing of ideas that takes place among this communtiy and your interactions are such a joy to participate in. 

May today be kind to you.  ~

97 thoughts on “living our best life – kindness”

  2. This is a great question. It’s hard to answer because I have experienced so many. I find myself telling people when they ask to help me by saying “I really appreciate you offering but I have to do what I am capable of, if I don’t I will lose the ability and part of my independence.” My answer is simply someone offering to help is among the greatest acts of kindness I experience.

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  3. When I was a broke single mother with a flat tire, someone put new tires on my car.
    It was a material thing, but the kindness and generosity blew me away. God’s grace and timeliness were perfect.

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    • Robin, this is beautiful! I LOVE that many of us with chronic health issues still take time to reach out to others to check on them……..we understand! I am so happy that you have friends who get it! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

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  7. As I look at the gifts I’ve been given, I am reminded of those who have helped with my trials in the north. While taking care of mom, taking care of the mess she’s left me with, and knowing how I’ll have to look for those helps when I eventually return for good to the PNW. The support I have here is nothing like I have up there. My online WP world has been a godsend.

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  8. Being shown the reality that is underneath all that we do Wendi. To actually see the love that creates it, even in the most direst of circumstances, is beyond words. It most certainly is an unconditional love, regardless of what we do, because each step we take will guide us to it. It takes away the chronic in ‘chronic’ because I now know it is given with a blessing so that we can find that beauty inside us all. It takes great courage to go through chronic, in all its shapes and sizes. But in the end it will give us an appreciation like nothing else of life 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
    Happy Mothers Day to one and all of those beautiful women in this world, may your day be blessed. My mother was, I sneaked her a nice packet of her favorite dark chocolate coated ginger pieces. I think I got a brownie point for them, considering the circumstances 😂 🤣
    Have a lovely day Wendi, may it touch that love 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋

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    • As I have written before, you leave such amazing comments that require me to read several times so I can soak in all the wisdom. Thank you for leaving another one of those amazing reflections.
      Wishing you a blessed day and one that brings you smiles 🙂 God bless you.

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  10. Happy Mother’s Day Wendi you do an admirable job. I have only one person who put their hand out to help through a very difficult situation without them I would have sunk into a deep pit of hell. They kept me afloat until the times of change came. They continue to do so. There are some very blessed people on this Earth.

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  12. Tough one. One of the kindest things was a friend paying for me to see a homeopath a few times. Another is a coworker turned friend who still comes to see me after six years (she’s the only person who visits more than once a year). She listens completely without judgement. You simply cannot put a price on that. 🌸

    Happy Mother’s Day! 💐

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    • 🙂 You are absolutely right, you cannot put a price on someone who will listen without judgement……….it is WAY TOO rare and I am so very happy that you have friend who stayed………I also LOVE that someone helped you out paying for a part of your medical bills……people who do not live with illness have NO idea how expensive it is. Thank you for sharing………..I hope your Mother’s Day treated you well…..

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  14. My two sons pediatrician, has been the most wonderful support during both of their on-going chronic illnesses/ailments. Greg has had 18 operations and Michael 14 for each of their very different conditions. Once, when we thought Michael might have cancer as he had a tumour in his stomach, she offered us her blood if he needed a blood transfusion. I have never forgotten that kindness. Have a lovely Mothering Sunday, Wendi.

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    • I am so very sorry that your wife has to endure so much. But thank you for sharing one of the ways that you take such great care of her……….Thank you for sharing……..sending your wife a gentle virtual hug.

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  19. Great question, Wendi. Kindness is underrated. We need more of it. I have a sign I put on my fridge that says ‘Be kind to yourself’. I think we don’t do that enough. My daughter has Fibromyalgia and is always in pain. There is a lot she can’t do and a lot I can’t do. She moved in with me a year ago to help me but I think we are helping each other. We don’t judge when one of us is unable to a task. We just work as a team. Do take care of yourself and be kind to yourself.

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    • WOW, this is beautiful, thank you! You are so right, we are so hard on ourselves, judging ourselves against our past life when we could do more……..we need to celebrate our wins, no matter how darn small. Like hey, I took a shower today, woohoo! 🙂
      I love how you and your daughter are working as a team and are they to show each other love, respect, kindness and understanding………you sound like a great combination – a force to be reckoned with! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing this very important lesson………..Bless you.

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  20. I hope your Mothers Day was fab! And I hope at least one of your kiddos told you…. yep, here it comes… you rock, Mom!!! (And you do!) Since becoming ill, the most memorable kindness shown to me? I am happy to say I don’t just have one, there are many. I love kind people… one memory that really sticks out…

    My brother was in the hospital fighting cancer. I had moved to be there to take care of him. This was a busy damn hospital. We were on 6west… the ‘doomed’ floor. I kept getting into arguments with Brenda, a head nurse… I mean we went toe to toe a few times. One day she asked to speak to me in the hall. She told me how strong I was. How calm and in control I was even with living this process of loosing my brother… she was glad My brother had me. Now this was surprising and I realized she must go through very real sorrow working on this specific floor. I also knew she called my brother her “Boo” and when she was on the floor he was a priority to her. Brenda was kind and she was also kind enough to show me kindness which couldn’t have been easy nor comfortable for her. Amazing. 😊

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    • Oh Kim, this story brought tears to my eyes……you are such an amazing soul with such a big, loving heart! He is so lucky to have you as a sister……thank you for your willingness to share this part of you life and I am thankful that you have experienced many kind moments in your life.
      Mother’s Day was spent in day ill, some days are just like that. No, I didn’t hear that from my kids, maybe some day I will but hey, I read it from you and that always makes my day! 🙂
      I hope today is treating you well.

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      • Awe. Don’t be sad… listen. Miss Brenda was like an American gladiator! She could’ve snapped me in two! Scary. I was like David, in David and Goliath… no I was in Tokyo when Godzilla tried to take it! Naw… it was just two women dealing with a sad situation… I HOPE you know, you do rock. Down days and any other! XX

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  21. Thank you for sharing!!.. I just follow my heart… 🙂 “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others, for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness, and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” (Audrey Hepburn)… 🙂

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  22. Wendi, I do not consider myself chronically ill but rather living with new sets of challenges. I think the kindest act anyone has offered me is my husband who when I have terrible pain in my back, does acupressure in such a unique way he relieves my pain to that of a state of tolerance. I do not show my “weaknesses” much but when I do or put voice to the pain and fatigue I do deal with, my husband and yes my sister as well, understand, listen and know why I take time outs on the couch. I am accepted for who I am just for who I am in this given Moment and I know that is THE most kind anything anyone could ever do for me. xoxoxo

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  23. I hope you had a really lovely Mothers Day Wendi… Our own Mothers day here in the UK was at the end of March… Still in lockdown then but most enjoyable all the same…
    Nothing beats the love of family… And it was family that got me through many dark days during my own chronic illness and breakdown many years ago..
    I am always in gratitude for having their love…

    Thank YOU for the Kindness and care you share with so many…. Love and Blessings dear Wendi… ❤

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    • this is so beautifully true Renee! too many people want to judge or take time out of their busy lives to visit……….but for someone to give of themselves is truly the ultimate gift. Thank you so very much for stopping by and commenting……….I always appreciate your time. 🙂

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  26. Years ago while in a five month stay in hospital, a wonderful friend of mine travelled to and spent hours every evening with me. A few times he convinced the nurses into sneaking me outside for a few hours, and he even took me out once for chinese food. I will never forget his gift of time, or his sacrifice from his family.

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    • wow! It brings me so much joy to read that you had such a wonderful friend that gave so freely of his time……..What a beautiful gift you received and I am sure his company helped in your healing process. Thank you so very much for taking the time to stop by and visit and comment……….I deeply appreciate it. I hope today is treating you well.

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