Has Your Heart Run Away From Home?

Random acts of kindness can send up flares and guide it right back to your Being, where it belongs.

“You who are the source of all power, whose rays illuminate the world, illuminate also my heart so that it too can do your work.” The Gayatri Sun Prayer 🌞

I stopped to check the mailbox on the main road as I wrapped up a morning walk. I was searching for a delayed document among the ads and bills. No luck. I scowled at the ads like it was their fault, muttering about the waste of trees.

A crowded car with five passengers and a small pony pretending to be a dog in back, slowed down for the sharp curve in the road. Windows opened and everyone yelled out in unison, “We love you!” The dog gave an excited yip as well and poked his head out the window. Knocking ponytails loose with his eagerly wagging tail.

I didn’t recognize any of them but reflexively responded with a grin and echoed back, “I love you too!” Peace signs exchanged and a kiss blown. A gentle toot of their horn and off we went, on our merrier ways.

This piece of world flew by in several heartbeats. I had been hit and run by love bandits on the loose. Gone was my disappointment from moments before. Eradicated in one RAK, a random act of kindness.

I am not a Pollyanna, someone who focuses only on the positive. I came into life equipped with an explorer archetype and a strong sense of curiosity. This mission led me to foreign lands in our physical world and multiple domains in consciousness as well.

Life guarantees a mixed bag of emotions and events. Growth requires a willingness to experience everything that comes our way. No one is sheltered from hurt and pain.

If our blinders are off and our hearts are open, we’re sure to be blasted along the way. Our recovery depends on the healing tools we acquire to bring ourselves back to balance.

Different cultural behaviors intrigued me, as did the numerous subcultures within a country as well. The places holding my fondest memories share a prominent and distinct value. Kindness was honored and integrated into their society.

It can show up as simply respecting one another. Kindness takes many forms. It doesn’t have to make a display. It just is. If it’s missing in the community, dis-ease is created. People who have never received kindness in their lives demonstrate their lack of it. We read about them in the news…every day.

Random Acts of Kindness Day was created in 1995 by a small nonprofit organization in Denver, Colorado. Their inspiration stemmed from Anne Herbert’s book “Random Acts of Kindness” published in 1993. February 17th was tagged as the official holiday but this one day soon spread to a weekly celebration.

February 17th has also been declared ‘World Human Spirit Day.’ A day to acknowledge our worldly achievements, but also to keep in mind the possibilities we have as spiritual beings. This is a day prompting introspection and acknowledging none of us have all the answers. Who does? But we can be grateful for what we do have.

February 13th through the 19th is also, ironically, ‘National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week’ in the U.S. We think of heart rehab as being a physical treatment.

Our emotional and spiritual health is as vital to our well being as any diet or exercise program we follow. Kindness is a vitamin supporting heart health. Our brains agree by releasing a stream of pleasurable chemicals when we’re in the act.

Kindness is hard wired into our system and immediately activates the reward centers in our brains. RAK’s stimulate a flood of feel good chemicals, inducing a “helper’s high”. Volunteering can reduce stress, improve depression and decrease cognitive impairments as well.

Recent studies have revealed painful sensations produced by certain regions in our brains can be deactivated by the act of giving. The greater the variety in our acts of kindness, the happier we become.

Wether we admit it or not, we all want to feel a sense of belonging. Even if it’s a membership in the club of hermits and introverts. Don’t worry, they never meet in person.

Humans need connections to others in order to mirror ourselves. It’s a big part of how we learn. In certain circumstances kindness can appear harsh but still make an inroad to our heart.

I was a participant in a workshop with an emotionally unintelligent member in the group. He was hell bent on flustering the teacher and making sure everyone knew he was right in every way. There’s always one ‘look at me’ in the crowd.

He was getting his yah yah’s out by distracting and disturbing others. Tempers were rising and I could literally feel communal anger bouncing off the walls. Is this what we had to deal with for the next three days? The teacher seemed ill equipped to handle the monster in our midst.

During a mid morning break I walked up to him with a smile. “Congratulations, you’re doing the best display of a Jerk I’ve seen in a long time.” I meant to catch him off guard and I did. “Is that meant to be a compliment?” he snarled back.

“Well yes it is. You’ve managed to alienate yourself and turn off the entire room in two short hours. Quite a feat, if you’re here to make waves and not learn a damn thing. I’m pretty sure you can do better than that.” When we returned he sat in the middle of the room instead of the front row and didn’t peep another word.

At the end of the day he came up to me and said, ”At first you really pissed me off. I had no idea I had done what you said. I only realized it was true when nobody wanted to eat lunch with me or even look at me. I felt like a walking plague. I’m begrudgingly thanking you and I promise not to be an idiot the next two days.”

I was instantly flooded with compassion for his admission of unconsciousness. We all have these duh moments and often don’t walk out of them as gracefully as he had managed. The kindness gate had been cranked open. We shared a high five and parted amiably.

The next day I spotted him lunching with two other people. He gave me a thumbs up along with a wink. I made a heart with my hands and winked back through the hole. A private signal all was well. Our encounter was the true teaching in this event.

Every day I head out on a walk I turn to the east, face the Sun and chant the Sun Prayer. I’ve been doing this small practice for forty years.

The Sun Prayer is a personal Truth in my world. It activates ‘remembering’ and nourishes my soul. If my heart is tended, it can swim freely in the community pool of kindness.

This ritual is part of a daily maintenance program just like brushing my teeth to avoid decay.

Extending compliments became a natural behavior long ago. It’s easy to see something unique in an individual and kindness spontaneously arises. I’m often as surprised by my comments as much as the recipients.

The other day I was standing in front of bulk food bins in the grocery store. An elderly dude in his 80’s joined me and we started a conversation. Did buying organic really make a difference when it came to nuts?

We had been staring at the bins before looking into each other’s eyes. When we faced each other I blurted out “Wow, your eyes are so sparkly, I’m calling you Mr. Sparkle!”

He blushed and told me, “No one’s ever said such a thing to me.” Then gave me a wide grin, vastly increasing his shine. I smiled back and replied “Well now someone has, so consider yourself crowned.”

Checking out after he left the store, the attendant had observed our dialogue and asked “What did you say to him? He’s been so sad the last six months since his wife died. I caught a glimpse of his former self today. He even walked with a lighter step!”

The feel good effect was sending out a ripple. “I noticed his twinkle but he’s the one who ignited his pilot light. Sometimes we just need to be seen kindly by another.”

He was a stranger to me, but knowing his spirit had been heavy and lifted so easily with a RAK moved both of us. Another reminder of how easily we can expand our hearts by encouraging hope and kindness in others.

We’re in heavy times. It’s too easy to focus on what ails us. Random acts of kindness are antidotes. They offer keys designed to fit locks in our psyches and souls. RAK’s take us right back to what really matters in life. Exploring our hearts and generously distributing the wealth we uncover.

Show me a person who doesn’t appreciate an act of kindness and I’ll point the way to your local cemetery. We could all use an extra dose of this essential human goodness we’re wired to receive and give.

Forget about special days in February. Let’s be kindness outlaws and blast it out every day. Is someone a perpetual downer in your field? Surprise them with a home run hit from your heart and run your bases with winged feet.

When we extend small hits of our inate goodness, kindness tends to keep trucking back home for a new load. It’s a circle game called Life and it can be played with joy, even in the worst of times. Roll your dice and see this truth play out for your Self. 🌞