Make 2017 The Year of Kindness - Melanie Young- Fearless Fabulous You!

The Dalai Lama once said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible”

These days kindness seems to be replaced by chaos. Mall brawls, road rage, bullying, racism, rudeness, disrespect and disregard for authority or for anyone “not like us” monopolize stories in the media. It is too much!

The new year gives us all the opportunity to clear the slate and try to make things better. Making new year’s resolutions is a ritual for me. It sets the tone and my goals for my year, and it can do the same for you.

I think we can all start by making 2017 a Kinder Year. By definition, “kindness” is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. These are pretty simple things to achieve and far easier than losing 10 pounds which is a more common new year’s resolution.

Here are five ways to add more kindness in 2017:

1. Be kinder to You. Are you too hard on yourself? Lighten up! You are not perfect and you never will be. And that’s perfectly OK. Stop comparing yourself to others and give yourself a break. Be kinder to your body with a healthier diet and regular exercise. Let toxic thoughts and people go.

2. Be kinder to your family. Sometimes members of your family may drive you crazy but as their ranks start to diminish you’ll regret not staying in touch and remembering them on special occasions or during the year.

3. Be kinder to friends. Good friends are the family you choose. They may move away. Their lives may change. But a real friendship can last through anything. Keep in touch, even if it is a short email or a phone call.

4. Be kinder to strangers. Courtesy takes minimal effort. Yet, it can make a sizable impression.

5. Be kinder to the people who make your life easier, better and less complicated. These are people who provide you services that often are taken for granted. Sometimes these people are treated as if they are invisible. Make them a focus of your kindness.

Kindness costs nothing to share and its value only increases as it spreads. Hopefully in 2017 people will learn to spread kindness over violence, but it starts with setting an example.

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Kinder 2017. Make it you #bestyearever