Deriving happiness through simple acts of kindness

As the saying goes, "Courtesy begets courtesy, Kindness begets kindness". Hence, I believe one simple act of kindness is enough to bring about another and it in turn inspires a third and then spread on to reach thousands and even millions because every act of kindness has a positive ripple effect.

The world will be such a wonderful place to live in if everyone of us show kindness to others and spread happiness around. A little bit of care and compassion to people around us can certainly make a great difference to our lives and enhance the quality of living.

When we come across someone in need, we can lend them a helping hand to see them through and this can be a simple act to give up your seat on public transport to an elderly person or someone who needs it more than you. When you see a child crying helplessly at one corner of a crowded shopping centre, would you stop to give him a hug to comfort him and then bring him/her to the reception counter to page for his/her parents?

When you see someone short of small change and is unable to board the bus or train to attend to an urgent matter, would you care to just give him the short change just to enable him/her to board the bus or train? The list can go on and on....

I believe that most living creatures live in communities of their own and humans being the most intelligent of all is no different. In fact, our ability to think and reason had made us all the more susceptible to show more compassion and kindness to our fellow mankind and animals alike.

Well, what about unkind souls among us? Do they deserve our kindness and compassion in times of need? Would they learn to appreciate or reciprocate the love and kindness that others had given to them? I believe they do if they can see the happiness and satisfaction that others have experienced when they share and spread their love to them, although some may take many such experiences to realise it.

Whatever it is, I feel that showing compassion and kindness should be a self-less act in which the giver do not request for any form of return. As such, the only way to reciprocate such heavenly acts is to give it to yet another who needs it in the 'Pay it Forward' concept.