K is Kicking

I'm halfway through the blogging alphabet challenge. The goal is to work through the alphabet and write about five favorite things that begin with each letter. A lot of people have completed the challenge in a year. Not me. It's taken me a few years to get to the halfway point. And that's okay.

I don't post often as I used to. But when I do posts, they're like novellas--long but hopefully, entertaining and informative. So I think it's okay to post weekly, especially as my posts are rather lengthy. Apologies. But when the ideas come, I find it best to just go with the flow. I'll edit it down afterwards. And I'll try to stay on point.

Today's letter is K. And K is Kicking! To be honest, I drew a blank at first. Just how many things that I like begin with the letter K? I paused for a moment. But once I started thinking about places and things I like that begin with K, the ideas just stampeded in, and I had to wrangle them into a manageable corral.

Once I wrote down all the great things that I like that begin with the letter K, it was easy to organize them. I just group them into places, food, things, and a mix of all three:

Some of my favorite K words are Kiss, Keen (Highly Developed, Sharp, Enthusiastic), and Kismet (Destiny, Fate). I love Kirsch, the liqueur made from the wild cherries. I also love Karats--the measure of purity of gold. The more karats the merrier (and the more precious the gold)!

I love Karate and Kung Fu movies! The dubbed ones are my favorite! They have the best action sequences, and they feel a lot more genuine when the English dub occasionally fails to cover the actors lip movements. You know the film was originally recorded in a foreign language. That's what makes it so cool!

These are my favorite places that start with the letter K:

I love deserts, so I'd like to see the Kalahari: For the wildlife, the ancient tribal peoples who still speak the clicking languages, and for the Meerkats!

At the opposite end of the terrain spectrum is Kamchatka, the far northeastern peninsula of Russia: It is a land of volcanoes, snow capped mountains, hot springs, rushing rivers, and lots of wildlife surrounded by a rich fishing coast. It's a rugged and wild landscape, and that is something that I find alluring and fascinating. Lots of grizzlies, too! But if I ever make it there, I plan to observe the big brown bears from a far and secure location, preferably in an armored and heavily armed vehicle. I am NOT going to be bear food! That would totally ruin the experience.

Kona and Kauai (Hawai'i): the first for the coffee, and both for the beauty and gorgeous landscapes.

Korea: For the BBQ (Bulgogi), the Soju, and the culture. Plus, I want to see the sights and the historic and beautiful locations.

And I want to hear some K Pop and try some Karaoke bars in Korea. I'm not sure how I feel about K Pop, but I'm willing to give it a shot if I ever make it to Korea. Karaoke is a given. Luv it! It's a lot of fun with friends and alcoholic drinks!

I want to try the authentic local Korean cuisine and compare it to the US versions: Bibimbap (rice topped with sauteed/stir fried veggies, chili soy sauce, and meat), Japchae (noodles, marinated stir fried beef and veggies), and Gimbap (rice and veggies and meat with sesame oil/seeds rolled in seaweed wrap, sort of like a Korean sushi roll).

But I may or may not try the Kimchi, the fermented spicy cabbage and veggies salad. Sorry, but I can't get past the pungent stench! I may need some serious soju to get past the smell of kimchi. But I will definitely try the Dak-kkochi, grilled chicken skewers, because everyone loves delicious grilled meat on a stick! The world would be a much better and more peaceful place if everyone had delicious grilled meat on a stick.

And because I love BBQ and grilled food, I'd like to go to Kansas City and Kentucky to try their fantastic BBQ and sauces. Also, I like Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sure, I'll go to Popeye's if I want something spicy. But I love KFC's original recipe.

I also love Key Lime Pie! We had key limes on the farm. It was the only kind of lime that grew well in our area. And it ranks right at the top with pineapple and lemon meringue as my favorite pie flavors!

Kool Aid pickles are a guilty pleasure! The colors are fantastic! And the flavors are an awesome mash up of sweet, sour, and tangy! The red cherry flavor is more popular because of the stunning bright color. But I enjoy the lemon lime, watermelon, and orange flavors. Pineapple is my fave Kool Aid pickle flavor.

Speaking of pineapples, I like to lay out the rings or chunks and sprinkle them with sweetened Kool Aid for an awesome sweet and tangy flavor. They look cool and kids love 'em! So do the adults. Sometimes, I get creative and lay out several lines of Kool Aid varieties on top of pineapple rings, to make a sort of rainbow striped pineapple ring. It's an easy and delightful treat for parties, and it gives the kids something fun to do.

My other favorite K treat is a Kolache. Brought over to Texas by Czech immigrants, the original kolache is a pastry made of sweet fruit filling. After the Czechs settled in Texas beef country, they created klobasniky, replacing the fruit with a delicious meat sausage. Kolaches became pigs in a blanket! And I love the meat kolaches! The cheesy meaty savory ones are my fave! The fruit ones are delicious, too. If I want to make a special, scrumptious savory treat for a party or picnic, I make sausage and cheese kolaches. It takes time, but they are so worth it!


These are my favorite K animals:

Kestrels are gorgeous!

I love the unique, exotic, gorgeous Aotearoa (New Zealand) birds like:

The Kakapo,

The Kereru, the NZ Wood pigeon, at Wharepuke Kerikeri,

The Kaka,

and The Kea.

I also love the New Caledonia Kagu. Talk about awesome hairstyle!

I used to like Koalas, but then I saw a disturbing wildlife special that showed koalas as violent and vicious when fighting each other. But the koalas were also defending themselves against attacking predators and invasive species, so I'm back to liking them a whole lot. Koalas are special.

I feel bad that they are losing their habitat, and they aren't really protected in their own country, Australia. Their habitat is being continually razed by an expanding, invading human population. They only eat certain types of eucalyptus, and those eucalyptus forests are being torn down by an infestation of human encroachment. And they're dying from chlamydia! I would be very sad to see koalas go extinct.

The Tasmanian devils are going extinct, too. They've lost significant habitat to human infestation, and they're also suffering from a fatal, infectious cancer. So double sad for iconic Australian animals.

Tasmanian Devils by Martin Willis

Another fave K animal of mine is another Australian icon, the Kangaroo. They hop around and they just look cool. And there are so many varieties! I want to see a whole troop of them. And I want to see a real live tree kangaroo.

Kittens are my Kryptonite. So are puppies. And tiny babies. Actually, I have a weakness for cute baby critters, like ducklings, chicks, piglets, ewes, and kids (the baby goat kind). Baby critters are gorgeous!

But kittens are a particular fave of mine. We had a lot of cats back when I was growing up on the farm. Cats are great pets, and they were very useful in eliminating vermin from the farm. We loved our cats. We enjoyed feeding them and playing with them. And they made great company. It was always a special event when kittens were born.

We never gave our cats away, even when other people begged us for kittens. They were outstanding mousers. And they were fantastic companions and playmates. We loved all our pets. They were a part of our family.

Cats are cherished treasures and loved ones. They are wonderful and special. They come to us when we are feeling sad or distressed, and they comfort us. They make us laugh by playing with us. And they keep us company, letting us know that we are not alone, and that we are loved.

Of mythical animals, I'm fascinated by the Kumiho (Korean) or Kitsune (Japanese) spirit fox. In China, they are called Huli Jing. They are shapeshifting spirits. Sometimes, they become humans. Some even have gifted children with human spouses! The most powerful grow 9 tails after living for 1000 years, and in some tales, it grants them power over the elements, and they achieve greater deity status.

The Korean kumiho is usually thought of as an evil, harmful spirit that eats humans. Though, not always. Some Korean kumihos are seen as beneficial, guardian spirits, even great protective and good luck deities. The Japanese kitsune is a mischievous spirit, but is often protective and beneficial to those who show them kindness and respect. They also work with the great Shinto goddess, Inari (goddess of fertility, rice, tea, agriculture, industry, wealth, prosperity, pleasure, health, traders, actors, artists, entertainers, prostitutes, fishermen, firefighters, warriors, and craftsmen).

There are a lot of fantastic K words. And these are my top five favorite things that begin with the letter K:


1. Ketchup

I love ketchup! It's one of my favorite condiments. The other is mayo. And I like to mix ketchup with mayo for a delectable awesome sauce. Add some yellow mustard and pickle relish and you've got special sauce.

By itself, ketchup makes everything better! The sweet and tangy taste adds zing to any dish: Eggs, hot dogs, burgers, fries, meatloaf, and even tacos and pizza. I like to dip my grilled cheese in ketchup. And if I can't find any or am too lazy to make a delicious dip, I dip my chips in ketchup. And if I can't find any ranch dressing, I'm dipping my carrot sticks in ketchup, too. Ketchup is a scrumptious topping on mac and cheese.

It's also a great sauce for BBQ and fried chicken. Actually, the tangy sweetness and sharpness of ketchup is a perfect complement to any fried or grilled food: Pork chops, steak, mushrooms, onions, even fish and other seafood, like octopi, crabs, and mussels. Meat is better with ketchup. And potato dishes are perfect with ketchup: Tater tots, hash browns, potato pancakes, even potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy are fantastic with ketchup.

Over the years, I've come to love other red sauce varieties, like salsa, sriracha, hoisin, gochujang, and sweet and sour sauce. But ketchup is still ranked at the top as my fave condiment.


2. Knowledge

Knowledge is important. Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge makes us better and wiser. I've always been a curious kid. I love learning and discovering new things. I'm a nerd who gets a kick out of reading about stars and cosmic phenomena. I love learning about animals and plants, exotic and local, and I enjoy being out in nature.

Archeology fascinates me, because history is fascinating. And Indiana Jones made it look like a lot of fun! I love Architecture, because it's beautiful: it's mathematics and art made real and given physical form. Anthropology and Travel excite me, because I love meeting new people, seeing new places, and experiencing new adventures. I like learning about other cultures and their customs, witnessing their beliefs, and trying their unique foods. Traveling has allowed me to meet some enchanting people, seen some spectacular sights, and tasted some sublime food.

I like learning about art and music from different places all over the world. I like listening to other people tell me their stories. I like exchanging ideas and discussing different thoughts and perspectives with other people. It helps to expand your point of view and you learn something new. Often, I've discovered some amazing and splendid things from other people who've shared their own experiences with me.

I like sharing knowledge, especially if it helps others. And I appreciate it when other people share their knowledge with me. Exchanging ideas and expertise makes us more productive, more efficient, and more likely to succeed and thrive.

Sharing knowledge helps us become smarter, stronger, and more resilient. We learn from our mistakes and are better prepared to survive emergencies and crises. Knowledge keeps us from repeating the mistakes and failures of the past. Knowledge can help ease our troubles and pain. Knowledge can keep us safe and protect us from danger and harm. Knowledge banishes away the fear of the unknown and allows us to reach for the stars.

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up."
--- Stephen Hawking (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018), scientist, philosopher, and Futurama voice actor.

Rest in Peace. You are greatly missed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Knowledge nurtures us. When we share knowledge, we can help each other grow food to end hunger, find medicine to heal the sick, and create opportunities and help lift up those living in poverty. If we help each other, we all become better and stronger in the long run.

Knowledge can expose us to the marvels and majesties of the universe. Knowledge is important, because it can help us become better people. Knowledge can improve our lives and make our world a more amazing and more wonderful place to live.


3. KC and the Sunshine Band

I love KC and the Sunshine Band! Their festive songs make me happy and feel great. My eldest siblings had their records. And with my older cousins, they formed a cover band that included KC and the Sunshine Band songs on their set list.

All the neighborhood kids would gather at our farm to hear the band practice in the converted carriage house. It was a lot fun. And when other people would show up with food and drinks, it became an impromptu block party. My two closest brothers and I grew up dancing to KC and the Sunshine Band.

When we heard "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", we shook it!

When they sang: Do a little dance, make a little love, "Get Down Tonight", we got down all right!

And though we didn't have any platforms, we still loved grooving and singing: I want to put on, my, my, my, my, my "Boogie Shoes"! Just Boogie with you!

And we loved dancing and singing: "I'm Your Boogie Man", that's what I am! And proceeded to show off our dance moves.

And we loved proclaiming: "That's the Way (I Like It)", Uh Ha, Uh Ha!

"Keep It Comin' Love", "Please Don't Go", and "Give It Up" were a big part of our childhood. Those songs made our older siblings and cousins' cover band very popular and much in demand for parties, weddings, and other festive events.

Disco may have died in other places, but it survived and thrived out in our remote coast. We loved to dance, and dance music is a mainstay on the local radio and music scene.

I still love dancing and I still love KC and the Sunshine Band. Their beats are awesome and the songs are catchy, fun, and fantastic. Their hits are on my playlist for parties and for long drives. And if I want some great music to listen to while I cook or clean or just dance around in the living room, I play some KC and the Sunshine Band.


4. Kitchen

The kitchen is one of my favorite places. Back on the farm, we had a large eat in kitchen. There was a separate formal dining room. But that was mostly for formal occasions when we had guests over for a meal. Guests were anyone other than family and close friends. Family and friends ate with us in the kitchen, where we had most of our meals.

And for our large Sunday lunch feasts, my whole extended family and friends would spill out into the veranda, eating our meals in the shade of the covered porch. A few would use the formal dining room, but the food and the majority of the action was in the kitchen, the liveliest room of the house.

I loved the farmhouse kitchen. It was very cozy and full of warmth. It was where my big family would gather to make meals, play card games, gossip, laugh, and tell tales, all while the a.m. radio played music. If there were any matters to be discussed or projects to plan, they were done at the kitchen table, usually over snacks. Some of my happiest childhood memories are with my two closest brothers, sitting at the kitchen table, next to Dad, eating our favorite foods made by our Mom.

We loved breakfast pancakes. And it was a whole lot of fun making pancakes with Mom and Dad. Some nights, as a special treat, we'd have pancakes and French toast for dinner, especially if it was just the three of us youngest boys with Mom and Dad. Our older siblings were usually out with friends or had plans to be elsewhere. Those pancake dinners were awesome. Pancake dinners were special occasions for us three youngest, one of the few times we had both parents to ourselves, without having to compete with our older siblings for attention.

Our parents would indulge us at those small dinners. My Dad would sit at the head of the table, our baby brother on his lap; and Dad would cut the pancakes into small pieces to feed our baby brother. Mom would have an assortment of pancake flavors with syrup and honey, and sometimes caramel and chocolate sauces, to spread on our pancakes. Some nights, we even had peanut butter with pancakes! Eggs, bacon, and sausage made for great side dishes to the fluffy, flavorful pancakes and French toast.

Lunch was always a treat, because that's when Mom made our favorite sandwich: The fried egg sandwich. When the three of us youngest were old enough, it became part of our job to collect eggs from the hen house. This was usually much easier when we fed the chickens. We would put out the feed, and while the chickens ate, we took their eggs. Some laid in the morning. Others, in the afternoon.

The fried egg sandwich is a heavenly treat. The kitchen smelled wonderful when the eggs were being fried. The simplest version was the best: Fried egg, lightly salted and peppered, with a dollop of ketchup, placed in between buttered bread that was pan toasted. It was delicious. Sometimes, we'd have it with shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and caramelized onions.

My older teen brothers showed us youngsters how to mix the ketchup with mayo, mustard, and pickle relish to make a special sauce. That special sauce elevated our toasted buttered fried egg sandwiches to a whole other level of scrumptiousness! But I still love the simple version the best.

As I grew older and became responsible for making some of the meals, I came to love the kitchen even more. It started out as a punishment, a lesson for complaining about the food. I was a picky eater and I was a selfish, spoiled brat. Mom corrected that ungrateful behavior by putting me to work in the kitchen. But I soon discovered how much I love cooking. And I started to try out new things and figure out what works and what didn't. It was the beginning of my culinary adventures.

I quite enjoyed experimenting with food; but sometimes, my family didn't enjoy some of my experiments as much--soy sauce pancakes and black pepper tilapia curry were huge failures. Just gawd awful! We had toast, scrambled eggs, and hash browns as a back up meal those nights. Thankfully, I had more kitchen successes with honey fried chicken and corned beef chop suy.

I love cooking and being in the kitchen. It feels good to make something delicious. It feels great to share it with the people I love. Cooking food and feeding people is an art form, a most divine, delectable expression of creativity and love. I like to see people smile and enjoy the food that I make. Cooking makes me think of home. Cooking makes me think of Mom and Dad making us food when we were little kids, and that makes me smile.

Every time I sauté onions, roast a chicken, or make soup, I smile and think of home; I picture my family all gathered in the kitchen, cooking, eating, laughing. The older kids helping with the meal, bossing us younger ones around; us younger ones being pests to the older ones, defiant and stubborn, ready to run and hide behind Mom or Dad if we pushed an older sibling too far.

I remember the radio playing good music in the background. We'd play board games and card games on the table. There would be gossiping, teasing, joking, and story telling as we snacked in the kitchen. It was always fantastic and exciting having other relatives and friends join us in the fun and exchange tales and play games. I remember elder relatives bringing us treats to share and small children playing.

I remember our cats wandering in and out, rubbing up against us; the dogs sitting by the back door, looking for a snack. Us younger kids would feed our pets while the older siblings made our meals. The kitchen was the room where you would most likely find all of us together, especially around meal time.

The kitchen was the heart of our home, it was the place where we gathered to share our meals and enjoy each other's company. A lot of love was generated and shared in the kitchen. And some of our happiest memories are from times spent in the kitchen with our family: cooking, baking, eating, cleaning, playing, laughing, and talking, singing, and dancing.

Whenever I need a boost or some comfort, I go to the kitchen and cook. Whenever I have time to do something fun at home, I bake, cook, or make a delicious dish in the kitchen. I don't always eat it all, but I do save a lot for later on in the week, when I don't have time to make a meal. It's why I make huge portions and divide them into meals for the next few days. That way, I'll have a delectable meal waiting at home or a packed lunch set for work.

Being in the kitchen is a pleasant experience for me. Making good food and sharing it with people feels great, feels right, and feels amazing. The kitchen is a sanctuary and a place of joy. It's my studio to create art and share some love. Sharing meals makes the world a little bit better.

The food I make is a reflection of who I am and where I come from. Pancakes, fried egg sandwiches, donuts, pies, and fried chicken remind me of home. They comfort me and make me feel good. They remind me that I was loved and that I am not alone, that I have people that I care for, and there are people who care about me. Making good food and sharing meals with good company makes life more enjoyable and absolutely wonderful.


5. Kindness

Kindness is the most beautiful and most powerful of all human behavior. Kindness can change lives and makes the world a better place. Small acts of kindness make life more wonderful.

When I was three, I woke up one day from a nap to discover my parents were gone. They had taken my baby brother to the hospital, because he had a fever. My year older brother went with them. I was asleep, so they left me behind. I cried. I felt abandoned. None of my other much older siblings were home.

But my Mom's eldest sister was there. My aunt. I was still a very shy child, not comfortable around strangers, and that included my aunt. Though I recognized her from her frequent visits to our farm and our few visits to her place, she was still a stranger to me. I would've cried harder and hid behind my parents if they were there. But they weren't there.

So when my aunt took me in her arms and lifted me, I didn't resist. I buried my head in her shoulder as she tried to comfort me, patting my back gently, whispering, "There, there. Your Mommy and Daddy will be back soon from the hospital. It's okay."

A few minutes later, we were in the kitchen. I stopped sobbing when I smelled something sweet and rich and tasty. I raised my head when my aunt offered me a piece of pie. I liked pie. We sat at the table and she cut up a half moon shaped pie into bite sized pieces for me. It smelled so amazing! And when I took a tentative bite, it was the most scrumptious, sweetest, and most heavenly treat that I had ever tasted in my young life! I was hooked! And that was the day that pineapple became my favorite flavor of pie!

More importantly, that was the day I began to love hanging out with my aunt. For the rest of her time on Earth with us, she fed us amazing, delicious, decadent treats. She made us feel loved and safe and happy. My two brothers and I loved spending time with her and eagerly sought out her company. We excitedly awaited her visits and coming over for our family Sunday feast. She always brought a scrumptious dessert, usually a cake, pies, or a cobbler. And cookies, made especially for us kids! With extras for the adults (the bigger kids!).

And when we were old enough, my brothers and I loved running over to our Aunt and Uncle's home and spend some time with them in their garden, pulling weeds or collecting fruits and veggies, and making delicious, tasty treats to share and eat. From my Aunt and Uncle, we three learned that sharing food is an act of kindness. Our friends loved tagging along with us to go visit and help our Aunt and Uncle with some chores. And we loved getting rewarded with yummy, delectable sweets!

Even better, as we ate our tasty snacks, our Aunt and Uncle regaled us with tales of their adventures and life in different parts of the world. Their stories were so much better than anything else on tv. Our imaginations ran wild. We oohed and ahhed over their souvenirs and treasures, and we especially loved fotos of those faraway places. We loved that they took the time to feed us and entertain us. And I think they loved having us visit and help around the house for a little while.

I grew up watching my parents and aunts and uncles share food with others. When we had a BBQ, we shared with our neighbors. When we made treats for large family parties and gatherings, we made extra to share with guests to take home. When we were blessed with a good harvest, we shared the bounty with neighbors and those who had less.

And I learned to make new friends by sharing my lunch and treats with others, especially new kids. It made them feel welcomed. I made a lot of good friends that way. And I'm still friends with a lot of them. And we still enjoy sharing a good meal or snacks. From my family, I associated kindness with feeding others, especially those who had less. Feasts were meant to be shared with good company, good people, loved ones, and friends.

If you come over to my place, I'm going to feed you, because I want you to feel welcomed and have a good time. And if you invite me to a party or for a meal, I'm bringing a dish to share, even if you ask me not to bring anything. I'm going to bring some food, because I was taught that it is the courteous, polite, and proper thing to do. Also, I like sharing good food with others.

Being kind meant taking good care of animals, our livestock and our pets. We were very attentive to the animals we raised on the farm for food and to sell. We took great care tending to them. We fed them, cleaned them, and provided them with a safe home. Good quality livestock comes from well tended animals. And when the time came, we slaughtered our livestock as quickly and humanely as possible.

Our pets were treated with love and care. Any stray that came to our farm was fed. Many stayed and became pets. That's how we got some of our dogs and cats--mutts and abandoned animals who found their way to our home.

A few of our pets were saved as puppies or kittens that some horrible people had cruelly tied in a sack and tossed into the trash can. Others were starving strays left for dead on the side of the road. Some of our pets were blind or missing limbs or even born with deformities. But we loved them all, and they loved us in return. We took very good care of them, and most lived long, happy, comfortable lives on the farm. They had wide open spaces to roam, a good home, and a family (including other pets) who loved them.

Being kind also meant helping out the wild critters we shared our spaces with. After a severe hurricane one year, a large colony of bats left the scoured mountains and fallen forests to seek shelter and nest in our fruit trees. There were so many of them huddled upside down on our rows of fruit trees. Other people wanted to hunt them. The bats were easy pickings, crowding upside down on the low fruit branches. You only needed a step ladder to reach some of them.

But my parents refused to let anyone come hunt the bats on our land, no matter how much people begged or how much money they offered. Bats are considered a rare, delicious delicacy in the remote frontier. Our dogs and cats were very busy that first week, raising the alarm and keeping trespassers and hooligans away from sneaking onto the farm to disturb the bats.

Those bats were protected on our farm. And they reduced the number of pests that ate our crops; and the bats helped pollinate and fertilize our crops and plants. The bats eventually returned to the woods and mountains after two months when the forests had regenerated.

But while they were with us, the bats made an awesome, impressive sight for our young friends and neighbors who came over to marvel at the bats sleeping in the day. We even had scientists dispatched from the regional office come study the bats as they roosted in our trees. I was quite sad to see the bats go. They looked like little foxes hanging upside down!

But I was also happy they were headed home where they belonged, up in the mountains and hidden in the deep, wild forests, far away from hunters and reckless idiots who would harm them.

I watched my parents and aunts and uncles give aid to those who needed it: Sheltered those who were displaced. Lent a hand to those who fell on hard times. And stood up for those who were oppressed and suffered unjustly.

I saw how those acts of kindness helped people when they needed it the most. And when my parents passed on in due time, many of those people came to pay their respects at the funerals. They spoke of the kindness my parents had shown them, and how that kindness made their lives better.

The stories told by those people who were helped by my parents made me cry. It made me miss my parents so much more. The loss of our Dad, and then later, our Mom, was hard to bear. I missed them so much. But hearing stories of their kindness made me so proud to be their son. It inspired me to be a better person, to try harder, to do the right thing.

I wasn't always a good son. And I was a difficult child at times. And it was too late to change the past. But remembering my parents and the positive effect they had on people made me realize that I can be a better man, a stronger man, a reliable and decent human being.

I was taught that kindness meant being courteous and thoughtful. That meant giving up my seat to the elderly and infirm; helping seniors and struggling neighbors with their tasks; opening doors and pulling out chairs for women. And being polite means saying "Please" and "Thank You" and addressing people as "Ma'am" or "Sir" appropriately.

Courtesy means respecting boundaries and offering people aid when they are in distress. It means doing the right thing, because it's the right thing to do. Whether they are elderly or small children, I like to be courteous and nice to people. And I try to respect others and treat them the way I want to be treated. I like watching children smile when I give them a tasty treat to eat or a small toy to enjoy. I love hearing them laugh when I take a few minutes to play with them and pay them some attention.

It's easy to be rude and selfish and be mean to people. It takes a lot more strength and character to be kind and thoughtful and stand up to bullies and fight for justice and fairness. Kind people are courageous, wise, and beautiful. A kind soul is reflected in kind actions. And kind people are worth their weight in gold. Kind people attract and keep the best people as friends and loyal companions. Everybody wants someone they can count on.

I confess, though, that times have changed. And people look at me weirdly if I open doors for them or offer them my seat. Some feel uncomfortable when I address them as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Some just look at me dumbfounded when I say"Please" and "Thank You."

But I still do it anyway. I smile at people that I just met and say hello. And most times, they smile back. If I'm walking somewhere, I tip my hat if someone meets my eye, a small nod of acknowledgement, a polite gesture of greeting.

I was raised to be courteous and polite with company; to listen to what people are saying; to not interrupt nor be rude to people; to be a stand up kind of guy, loyal and thoughtful and reliable; to be a good person and a trustworthy friend; to do the right thing.

And there are still a few people who genuinely appreciate the kindness and courtesy. Their smiles make it worth the small acts of common courtesy. The rarity and critical endangerment of common courtesy makes courtesy all the more valuable and precious. Courtesy is a distinct characteristic of sophistication. And I reciprocate when someone does something nice for me or shows me kindness. I really do believe in treating others the way you want to be treated. If you want first class treatment, you need to show some class first.

It feels good when we do something kind for others; and it feels great when someone does something nice for us. Small acts of kindness spread good will. They make our day a little bit brighter. And they make our world a little more wonderful. We make the world we want to live in. So let's make our world a special, amazing, caring, and beautiful space, a wondrous and kind, lovely place.


And that's my list of top five favorite things that begin with the letter K. And K is Kalon, beauty that is more than skin deep. What are your favorite things that been with the letter K? I would like to Know.


Related Links

A list
B all that you can B
Consumption
What you C is what you get, the beginning
What you C is what you get, the middle
What you C is what you get, the end
D lighted
Essential
F is for Fun
G is Great
H is Heavenly
I is Iconic
J is Jubilant
K is Kicking
Brought to you by the letter S
U doing that thing U do
Zing Zing Zoom