Compassion

Just a Little Kindness

/ jrmilson / 1 Comment

There are days that arrive with banners and bugles, fanfares and frolic, parties and parades attached to them. Like Mardi Gras today.
And then there are days that simply tap softly on the door and wait.

Today is one of those.

Random Acts of Kindness Day does not ask for grand gestures or long explanations. It does not require a plan, a budget, or a public witness. It just asks us to notice — and then act — in whatever small way presents itself.

Sometimes that looks like holding a door a moment longer than is polite.
Sometimes it sounds like a “Thank You” said clearly, without rushing past it.
Sometimes it is letting someone go ahead of you when you are tired and in a hurry — and choosing not to make a story about it afterward.
Sometimes it is an unexpected visit.

Sometimes it is a note tucked into a lunch bag or backpack.
Sometimes it is paying for the order behind you in a drive-thru.
Sometimes it is a phone call made without waiting for the perfect moment.
Sometimes it is simply a smile and a moment of acknowledgment at the register.

The thing about kindness is that it rarely announces itself.
It tends to arrive quietly, do its work, and leave without asking to be remembered.

And that may be why it works.

A small kindness does not try to fix the world.
It simply steadies one corner of it.

And we never know how far the ripples may travel.

We never know what burden someone is carrying when they cross our path. The weight is often invisible. But kindness has a way of lightening a load, even if merely for a little while.

No spotlight required.
No tally kept.
No expectation of return.

Just a moment that says — You’re not alone here.

If today offers you a chance to show kindness — even a small, ordinary kind — take it.
And if it does not, be patient. These moments have a way of finding us most often when we are not looking for them.

And that has always felt like the truest kindness of all.

‘Til next time, then — Jim  (and Red!)

P.S. Little Red Bear once said that kindness does not need to be big to be real.
The smallest kindnesses are often the easiest to carry — and the longest remembered.

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The First Holler!”

These illustrations were created with the assistance of AI.

A Few Things That Still Hold

/ jrmilson / Leave a comment

There are seasons when the world feels like it is shifting underfoot — not all at once, not dramatically, but just enough to make you question your balance.

Do you feel it, too?

Nothing has necessarily collapsed.
Nothing is clearly finished.
And yet, something feels . . . . less certain than it used to.

In moments like that, it can help to notice what has not moved.

Not as a declaration of hope.
Not as an argument against worry.
Just as a quiet inventory — the way one might check familiar landmarks after a fog rolls through.

A few things still hold.

Morning still arrives, even on the days when enthusiasm does not. Light shows up without asking how we slept or what we are carrying. It has a way of finding the edges of things — countertops, window frames, the rim of a coffee cup — and reminding us where we are.

Kindness still happens in small, almost forgettable ways. Someone pauses instead of pushing ahead. Someone listens longer than required. Someone does a thing they will never be thanked for. These moments rarely make noise, but they have not disappeared.

The body still knows how to breathe. Even when the mind is busy rehearsing worries or replaying conversations, the lungs keep doing their quiet work. In and out. Over and over. A small, faithful rhythm we do not have to manage.

Familiar routines still offer their shape. The same chair. The same walk. The same ordinary tasks that once felt dull and now feel oddly reassuring. There is comfort in doing something you have done before, even when the larger picture feels unsettled.

And beneath all of it, there is this —
You are still here.

That may sound obvious. It is not. Being here — present in the moment, trying, showing up in whatever way you can — counts for more than most of us give it credit for. Especially in times like these, don’t you think?

None of this fixes anything.
It is not meant to.

It is simply a reminder that not everything loosened at once. Some things stayed put. Some things kept their place. Some things are still doing exactly what they have always done.

If today feels heavy, that does not mean you are doing it wrong.
If you feel tired in ways sleep does not quite touch, you are not alone in that.
If all you can manage right now is to notice one small, steady thing — that may be enough. And we can do that, can’t we?

There will be time for decisions later.
There will be time for action, and clarity, and movement.

For now, it is alright to rest your attention on what still holds.

That is not giving up.
That is finding your footing.
And for now, that is enough.

‘Til next time.  — Jim  (and Red!)

(We’ll get back together here again on Saturday when the Gazette arrives. Hope to see you!)

If you’d like to receive these notes as they’re written, you’re welcome to follow along here.

These illustrations were created with the assistance of AI.

Lead the Way

/ jrmilson / 6 Comments

Having come across a line the other day that stopped me in my tracks, I wanted to share it with you — not because it was clever, but because it was so clear.

“Don’t wait for other people to be loving, giving, compassionate, grateful, forgiving, generous, or friendly . . . lead the way!” — Steve Maraboli

That simple idea has a way of lingering.

So often, we wait.

We wait for the mood in the room to improve.
We wait for someone else to soften first.
We wait for the world to give us permission to be kind.

But kindness has never needed permission.

Being loving, generous, or compassionate is not something done after conditions improve. More often than not, it is the very thing that improves them.

Leading the way does not have to be loud.
It does not require a spotlight or a platform.

Sometimes it looks like:

  • offering patience when impatience would be easier
  • choosing gratitude when complaint feels tempting
  • being friendly without checking first to see if it will be returned

Small acts, yes — but small acts have a way of traveling farther than expected. Like ripples on water, they move outward quietly, reaching people and places we may never know about. And isn’t that a good thing?

There is a quiet power in deciding to go first.

First to Smile.
First to Forgive.
First to offer Grace.

In uncertain or heavy times, that choice matters even more — not because it fixes everything, but because it reminds us, and those around us, of who we still are —
that we are human, and that we care.

There is no way to know who needed to see that kindness today.
No way to measure the ripple it may have started.

And that is all right. What matters is simply that the kindness was offered.

The world does not change only through grand gestures. Sometimes it shifts because one person decided not to wait.

So if there is a question about what to do today, perhaps this is enough —

Be the Loving one.
Be the Generous one.
Be the Friendly one.

Lead the way.

Doesn’t that feel like a good place to begin — leading with Kindness?

‘Til next time.  — Jim  (and Red!)

If you’d like to receive these notes as they’re written, you’re welcome to follow along here.

These illustrations were created with the assistance of AI

 

 

When All Hope Seems Lost — Thoughts on the Election. We are the Resistance.

/ jrmilson / Leave a comment

Happy November!

A week ago I was dog and pet sitting for one of my sons while he and my daughter-in-law vacationed in Cancun, and leaves began to first display Autumn colors here.

Then, on Monday and Tuesday of this week, 8 inches of rain soaked our area, caused widespread flooding along with many school closures, and blew newly colored leaves off trees already.

On Tuesday, folks headed to the polls in the Presidential election across the U.S., and officials declared Donald Trump the winner in a decisive victory.

And on Wednesday morning, following the overnight announcement of the election results, the world as we knew it ended. Or so it seemed anyway, as many around me fell into a sinking feeling of hopelessness, depression, and despair. Feeling drowned and done in by both the rain and the election.

Well, let’s talk about that. Because talking about problems and bringing them out into the light of day can help us to not only work thru what is bothering us but also to figure out what we can do about it all going forward.

Continue reading →

Happy June! Happy Summer! A New Month and Another New Beginning! We’re Back and Going – Again!

/ jrmilson / 2 Comments

Happy June and Happy Summer, y’all —

Here in the Midwest, on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri, June is the “Early Introduction to Summer” month. This is when all of the new summer activities are still exciting and fun before the inevitable heat and humidity of August wear you down. But we won’t go on about that stuff yet.

Right now, it is an exciting time, with June unquestionably the month of baby deer.

Birds begin to raise their young; baby squirrels and bunnies venture out of nests for the first time; there are summer barbeques, trips to the beach, water balloons, toasting marshmallows over a campfire, charging down the backyard slippy slide, visits to the park, and so much more.

But now, changing the topic to address the obvious for those who follow along here regularly— it has been a minute, as they say. Once again, I have been a few months away from writing following yet another extensive spinal surgery, for which I sincerely apologize to faithful followers. This surgery was extensive, from top to bottom, with the resultant recovery and rehab a much longer and slower hill to climb back up to get going again.

But more about that in a minute.  We have a lot of catching up to do.

Continue reading →

My Little Dog Lost — And Only A Miracle Brought Her Back!

/ jrmilson / 9 Comments

Happy Day and Thank You for visiting with us! We’re getting a bit personal today.

The intended purpose of my Writing Pages here, just like my Little Red Bear Adventure story books, has always been to entertain, inform, and educate a bit along the way.

Having been thru so much this year dealing with various health issues and strong encouragement from my family to do so (after sixteen surgeries, one of my sons remarked that I should be an expert in preparing for them), after a good deal of reflection, I decided that perhaps sharing bits and pieces of my personal life and some of the issues I deal with from time to time might be helpful and of benefit to others. Hoping so, anyway.

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) with all that entails (a list in and of itself), Degenerative Disc and Joint Disease, Autoimmune Disease, Neuropathy, Numerous Surgeries for Joint Repairs and Replacements, Dental, and other general issues related to Aging are a few of the things at work here. I consider myself blessed that so far all of my issues have been confined to the superstructure (bones, joints, tendons, etc.) and nerves, with otherwise good organ health overall.

With both hips replaced and many levels of my spine fused together, I am about as flexible as a 2″ x 4″ these days and require the use of several tools and assistive devices to get dressed in the morning and carry out other daily functions. So I thought that talking about those things now and then, along with information on the various tools and implements I routinely use or have tried unsuccessfully along the way, might help and allow others to learn and benefit from my experiences.

Please let me know in the Comments if you think this would be of interest or benefit from time to time . . . . . .

But today, we are talking about my little dog companion, Allie.

Allie is a sweetheart, thru and thru. She loves people, especially those with treats (and there are many here in the Senior Complex where we live!), and on occasion has been known to tolerate other dogs, as long as they have a properly signed sidewalk pass to trek thru her territory. Her “Territory”, of course, being the sidewalks and streets surrounding the seniors’ community where we live.

Allie is a spayed female and is around eleven years old. I adopted her a couple years ago to save her from being dropped off at the animal shelter, bringing her into my home when the living situation with a two-year-old boy became unworkable for her original family. Small dogs and small children are seldom a good match.

Getting back to the story, last week Allie and I were dog and pet-sitting at one of my sons’ homes while he and my daughter-in-law were away on vacation, something I do for them nearly every year around this time. This was Allie’s second tour of pet-sitting duty with me.

My son and his wife have two adorable little Pugs, a black and a fawn-colored one, both neutered males around four and three years old. He also has a fully-grown Blue-phase Tegu Lizard, “King Louie”, and several assorted others including geckos, snakes, tarantulas, African frogs, and others. My duties are limited to taking care of the dogs, the Tegu, and the geckos. They have a fenced backyard where, along with the two pugs, my little chihuahua can run and explore along with them off-leash. A real treat for her since we are required to walk solely on leash here when out and about.

From prior years, I was aware of a small opening in the chainlink fences at a back corner of the yard, where three fence poles come together but do not meet. The opening is too small to be an issue for my son’s chunky little pugs but could be passable for my slim little chihuahua. Right off the bat, the first thing I did both last year and this year was to block off that opening so Allie would not be tempted to go off on an adventure and explore the area. We are a good match that way, always wanting to discover what is over the next hill and around the next corner.

Tragedy nearly struck last Friday afternoon, however, when Allie discovered a new, small opening at the bottom of a wooden, privacy fence gate leading to the front yard that I was unaware of. I opened the back door and called the dogs in after they had been out for just a few minutes. The pugs both charged in as they did, but no Allie. I went into the yard to look for her and searched all over, but she was nowhere to be found. Repeated loud calls of her name yielded nothing. Rushing thru the house to the front, I called over and over again. Allie was nowhere in sight and not responding.

Trips back and forth thru the house, front yard to back yard to front yard to back yard were fruitless. I had no car to drive the neighborhood, and with my health and mobility issues, was unable to go anywhere to search for her. I remembered that I had never gotten around to ordering a dog tag for her. There was no way for anyone to get her back to me.

Panic began to set in! Allie was lost! A tiny little dog out in the big, dangerous world. All alone! Lost and alone, unfamiliar with the sights and sounds in a strange new neighborhood. With absolutely no regard whatsoever for vehicles or crossing the street, how long would she last without me to pull her back and keep her safe?!? There was no way my little Allie could find her way back. Rushing from back to front and back again over and over, if I wasn’t praying I was cussing, and if I wasn’t cussing I was praying! After about twenty or so minutes, I was giving up hope and beginning to reconcile that I had lost my dog. She was gone!

Returning thru the house from yet another front yard calling session, I stepped out the back door and suddenly there she was, racing up the hill towards me from the wooden gate, never taking her eyes off me and echoing the same panic-stricken look that I had on my face.

Somehow, some way, Allie had found her way back from wherever she had been off exploring, remembered the hole in the wooden gate, squeezed back thru, and made it safely into the backyard again. I give total credit and thankfulness to God, because I had reached the point of despair, resolved that she was gone, and trying to figure out how to break the news to others at home where we live. God be praised!

Allie, along with the two pugs of course, immediately received a tasty and yummy Bacon & Cheese flavored treat to welcome her back! Despite my emotional state, there was no scolding, no punishment, no corrections. Simply affection and praise to welcome her back. The story of the Prodigal Son came to mind. Praise God, Allie had returned and was back.

It should go without saying, that the hole at the bottom of the wooden gate was immediately blocked and covered over with concrete blocks, along with assorted sticks and leafy twigs to deter future exploration out of the yard. And — a shiny, new, stainless steel ID tag is on the way in the mail, too!

Sharing this personally embarrassing story, there are hopefully some lessons for us all, at least dog owners, perhaps.

Admittedly, right here for all to see — I am not perfect. I had intended all along to get an ID tag for Allie just in case something like this might happen at some point. I didn’t. No excuse. There was always something coming up to distract me when thinking about it, or at other times it just slipped my mind altogether. Shame on me. I expect and demand better of myself than that, especially when someone else is depending on me to protect and/or provide for them, as Allie does.

Also, after hearing the story, several folks here have asked or commented — “Boy, I’ll bet you gave her what-for after she came back!” Or — “Did you scold and let her have it?” “Did you punish her?” “No treats for two weeks for you, little lady!”

Again, having had and trained dogs for many years, my only response after she found her way back was loving affection. Scolding, yelling, hitting, or punishing a dog at such a time is only teaching the dog NOT to come back next time!  And I have found that practice works with children, too. And, employees for that matter. The subject of her disappearance has never come up in discussion since, because Allie would have no idea what in the world I was talking or upset about. That near-catastrophe was on me, not her.

My story character friend Little Red Bear would explain it this way — “If every time you walk out into the barnyard and a duck comes up to you, whether you called it or not, and then you conk it on the head with a stick, it won’t be long before that duck stops coming to you, whether you have a tasty treat in your hand, or not.”

Thank you again for visiting today!

And please, do let me know if you enjoyed this little bit of “life share” and would like to see more posts like this, about true life experiences both health-related and not.

I have always been reticent to share such things from my personal and private life, but if you enjoyed this and think entries such as this may help or benefit others along the way, please do let me know, because helping and benefiting others is what it is all about here.

None of us are perfect, and we all struggle with issues of one sort or another as we journey along the life path set before us. Sometimes, it’s good to know that we are not alone and that we have company along the way.

Sending along best wishes for a Beautiful Autumn and coming months in your neck of the woods.

Until next time — Best Wishes & Blessings! — Jim  (and Red!) 🤠 🐻 🍂 🧡 🍎 🌻 🍁

In A World Where You Can Be Anything — Be Kind. Because Kindness Matters!

With children and grandchildren around (and for those of any age who like to color!), we invite you to visit “Little Red Bear’s “Happy Autumn Season!” Coloring Pages”.

Enjoy hours of family coloring fun and time together, all offered Free for our visitors!

If you enjoyed this piece, you may also like — “Happy October — The Gateway To Autumn & The Holiday Season!” and “Wishing You Deep Peace, Love, Happiness, and Joy –  And A Very Good Day!” 

New Visitors — Welcome! To find out what we are all about, please check out — “Welcome To My Writing Pages!” and “About the Blog, Jim & Little Red Bear” — and sign up to follow and be notified of every new post! Because really, why in the world wouldn’t you?

              “Faith goes up the stairs that Love has built and looks out the windows which Hope has opened.” – Charles Spurgeon  

“That’s the very reason they put rubbers on the ends of pencils . . . because people make mistakes.” – Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Meet Little Red Bear & His Friends —  “Once Upon A Time In A Very Special Woods . . . .”

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages! 
About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.
Tap Here For A Free Preview!
        “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this – you haven’t.”         – Thomas Edison

This is a purposefully non-monetized, ad-free site to offer the most enjoyable reading and viewing experience for everyone, with all content freely shared, and generates no income to offset the costs of developing new materials, maintaining, and operating.

If you enjoy your visits and time with us, I invite you to Join our Patron Community today, because together we can do so much!

With the help of patrons, we are able to donate free print copies of “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” stories and books to Senior Citizens,  School Libraries, Local Libraries, Classrooms, and those who could otherwise not obtain a copy.

Patrons also help my friend Little Red Bear and me to continue this as a Non-Monetized site free of distracting and questionable advertisements allowing for speedier loading and a more enjoyable experience for visitors,  dedicated solely to entertainment and educational purposes while sharing positive messages of Happiness, Inspiration, Kindness, Compassion, Positivity, Environmental Awareness, and Conservation with everyone.

With the support of our Patreon Community, all features here are offered “Free of Charge”. Because that’s just how we roll here. Will you help us keep it going?

We invite you to Join Us Today In Making A Positive Difference In The World!

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” –  Soren Kierkegaard
Thank You for visiting with us!
Please feel free to share with family and friends. Likes, Shares, and Comments are truly appreciated and help greatly to expand our reach and encourage new readers and visitors!
Because together, we can do so much!