So often we mortals think, and fall short of speech and action. I saw a recent poll (sorry, I can't remember where, but it was on the internet) where it said that over 90% of people felt they did not hear 'thank you' or 'you're welcome' enough in this day & age. How many of us are in relationships--romantic or otherwise--and we feel we have to ask if others love us or we just feel downright unloved? Saying these few phrases a bit more might probably raise humankind a bit more up the evolutionary ladder."It is well to think well; it is divine to act well." - Horace Mann
"Actions speak louder than words" is an old adage... and there's a reason for it to be so well known--it is truth! Being there for a friend in crisis, as much as your capable of, is indeed a worthy course of action. You demonstrate compassion and build trust when you act well towards other, no matter the action. You also get the opportunity to become less self-centered. Now, I don't mean self-centered only in an egotistical way--you can have the lowest self-esteem in the world and be depressed, and still this is a self-centered way of life.
When I first starting practicing Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI (a Buddhism lay organization), I was depressed. That was why I was seeking a spiritual solution in my life. My practice gave me hope and faith that things would change... and they did as I threw myself into altruistic activities within the organization to help others to practice Buddhism. I remember receiving spiritual guidance about a month after practicing because of my depression. The senior in faith told me that I had to start acting like a Boddhisattva [literally, a living being (sattva) who aspires to enlightenment (bodhi) and carries out altruistic practices]. After one month of me learning how to recite the prayers we do (which are in a form of Sanskrit, no less), I was encouraged to help others learn to recite the prayers. That act probably saved my life... OK, so I'm being a bit dramatic, but it did get me outside of myself, thinking of others, and taking the focus off things that were going on back then which seem petty and forgettable now. Making a positive impact in someone else's life, in turn, helped me to feel better about my life.
Acting for others gives me perspective in terms of my own life. Parents who help their children grow into healthy, happy adults are prime examples of altruism... good parents think of what's best for their children and act accordingly. You can definitely see the positive results of their actions in their children (I have seen it in Penny's daughter!)... and those children develop into people capable of acting in altruistic ways themselves. It just multiplies!!!
So smile... say 'please,' 'you're welcome' & 'thank you' often... volunteer in your community... hold the door open for someone... feel capable of positively effecting another person's life & act accordingly... and please just enjoy being with the people in your life... make sure you speak and act with love towards them so they will feel loved... that love will be reflected back to you in no time... a thousandfold.
