Often I open the newspaper and see some horrific story posted. It seems every day that something terrible is happening around the world. While the optimistic side of me would like to think that the whole world can’t be like this, it’s hard not to be discouraged seeing all the stories and news reports arguing otherwise. Robbery? Murder? Mayhem, anyone?

Human beings are good and have a great capacity for good. Or, at least, I would like to fervently believe so. If we surround ourselves with positivity, I think the goodness can build itself up and accumulate. I’m not naive. I know bad things can happen and they do happen often. I don’t want to turn my rose-colored blinders on. I just wish the news would focus less on the bad and more on the good. Therefore, I started a search for positive things to read and fill my mind with. It was surprisingly bleak out there. Most things I came across were ‘artistically dark.’

Recently, though, I came upon heart-warming collection of stories, called “Seeking Human Kindness.” I loved it. It actually made me feel glad that people are still willing to do nice things for each other. It made me want to go out there and pay it forward a little more. I think that being a nice person can be multiplicative. (If you are interested, you can check it out on Amazon.)

I know that being nice would never make front page news unless it involved something really dramatic, like some nun diving in front of an army tank to save orphaned penguins. Even then, I’m pretty sure the story would be about the army tank and why it was there in the first place or whether the nun was just trying to be a martyr. But, anyways, I’d like to think being a decent person and appreciating it when people do you a nice turn are worth something, too.

Today, I am thinking of going out and spreading some little seed of happiness and see where it goes. Hopefully, the wind will take it far. Maybe it will grow and spread. I’d love to believe that my little voice matters and could start some kind of movement. But, I know I am just an anonymous blogger posting my random thoughts. Maybe though, if more people alongside me, felt the same way though, we would be seeds in the wind together, floating, and making change happen through our collective voices.