Barack Obama said “Change will not come if we wait for some other person. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.

There are a few versions of a story that goes something like this. This is my version.

There was a community where people would happily share with one another, support each other, show compassion and kindness to each other. These warm fuzzies were freely given. Then one day a person told another person…”if you continue to share all of these warm fuzzies one day you will run out.” That person believed this could be true to began to keep their warm fuzzies and instead began to treat others with cold pricklies. Other people in the community heard that you could “run out” of the warm fuzzies so this ripple of coldness, fear, and negativity spread throughout the community. People where unhappy, negative, and cold towards one another. Then one day a child was sharing their warm fuzzies with everyone. Showering others with kindness and generosity. An adult cautioned the child that if they continued this they would run out of their warm fuzzies. The child said didn’t you know ..the more warm fuzzies you give the more warm fuzzies you will have. Warm fuzzies are unlimited. When the adult saw how happy this child was, they too began to give their warm fuzzies with joy and glee. When the other members of the community, including the one who thought you could run out of warm fuzzies, saw how happy people became in the giving of the warm fuzzies they too freely shared their warm fuzzies. Kindness, compassion and love radiated throughout the community.

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall

Research has shown time and time again that if you need a boost to your mood, are looking for ways to feel happier and healthier be kind. Show kindness, giving, and generosity to others. Be kind to yourself. The Mayo Clinic reports: “Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.”

Our people and are planet is hurting.  If you are looking for actions to take to help be kind. Share your warm fuzzies of kindness with everyone regardless of what they are saying or doing. Be kind because it is good for others. Be kind because it is good for you. It’s almost magical that when you start freely sharing kindness with everyone how it creates this positive energy within and then you want to do more. Many years ago I was not free with my warm fuzzies. When I was hurting I would hurl a cold prickley at someone. My change occurred when I changed my ways. I recognized my emotional pain and the found the way to help heal my hurt was be kind. It truly is that simple. It truly is that powerful.

As Jen Sincero says “You are loved, massively, ferociously, unconditionally. The universe is totally freaking out about how awesome you are.” Be good and kind to others. Be good and kind to yourself. Give your unlimited supply of warm fuzzies with joyous abandon. People will be better for it and so will you.

May your warm fuzzies be with you💜

Photo by Katarzyna Pypla on Unsplash