Caring for someone else is one of the most selfless acts any of us can make, whether it be for a loved one, a friend, or even a stranger. From an extended hand to a kind smile, the smallest show of support can make an immeasurable difference to those who need it most.
As caregivers, however, we also must look inward and be aware of our own needs. Self-sacrifice is what makes looking after others such an admirable task, but that doesn’t mean anyone should put their own lives or well-being on hold in the process. The healthier and happier the caregiver, the more love, attention, and energy they have to give.
For those who can afford to do so, stepping up to better the lives of others is a beautiful and rewarding act of kindness, as these 20 quotes attest.
Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters.
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.
Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.
Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. Those who walked before us have given so much and made possible the life we all enjoy.
We rise by lifting others.
Doctors diagnose, nurses heal, and caregivers make sense of it all.
Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give them yours.
The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others.
The happiest people are those who do the most for others. The most miserable are those who do the least.
If you’re someone people count on, particularly in the difficult moments, that’s the sign of a life lived honorably.
My caregiver mantra is to remember: The only control you have is over the changes you choose to make.
It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.
Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
We’re all just walking each other home.
Offering care means being a companion, not a superior.
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Featured Image Credit: Aaron Rapoport/ Corbis via Getty Images
Bennett Kleinman
Bennett is a staff writer at Optimism as well as a freelance comedy writer. He's based in New York City.
