Aug 5, 2021

#189

I must admit that the title for this week’s blog has come directly from Action for Happiness.

Aside from various webinars and events, each and every month Action for Happiness shares a calendar based on a theme (this month’s is Altruistic August and previous examples include Jump back up July, Joyful June, Meaningful May, Active April and Mindful March). Every month these calendars, available in a multitude of languages, include great ideas to be happier, kinder and together for the benefit of us as individuals and our communities.

This month’s calendar, Altruistic August, is accompanied by this quote from Seneca: "Wherever there is a human being there is a chance for kindness" and has me thinking about other quotes pertaining to altruism and kindness.

“Start each day in gratitude, live every day from love. Meet everyone with compassion.”

~ Rasheed Ogunlaru

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

~ Dalai Lama

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'”

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Altruism is innate, but it's not instinctual. Everybody's wired for it, but a switch has to be flipped.”

~ David Rakoff

“Happiness is a skill, emotional balance is a skill, compassion and altruism are skills,

and like any skill they need to be developed. That's what education is about.”

~ Matthieu Ricard

Finally, the six minute Life Vest Inside - Kindness Boomerang - "One Day" video illustrates the power of altruism.