On the weekend, I saw the movie “Precious.” Like most people, I found the physical and mental cruelty wrought upon the daughter by her parents hard to watch, to say the least.
Then, yesterday a friend recommended I read something suggesting that kindness can be spread as easily as cruelty.
You’ve probably heard the idea before, movies like “Pay it Forward” and various memes suggesting you pay the motor-way toll for the person behind you are not uncommon. In this article, the idea is taken a step further, suggesting that even if only one person starts the ball rolling, the effects can increase exponentially and snowball to create something massive.
It got me thinking about how I’ve been the recipient of a lot of kindness recently – when a person goes out of their way for you, it’s hard to not feel touched.
I recently applied at the very last minute for a semester one course in Human Nutrition and the lady in charge of the major answered my rather desperate questions and filled in extra forms for me well beyond the call of duty when she could easily have decided I’d made my bed and I ought to lie in it. She made herself available to me even though I’m certain she has a very busy job and the chances of me actually getting in were pretty slim.
Then, the woman who lives next door called out to me, a stranger, the other day, to ask if I’d like to join her for coffee sometime. She looked a little shy so I’m sure it can’t have been easy.
Another person who has consistently surprised and delighted me with his kindness is A., F’s dad. He is one of those rare souls who is always giving of his time, belongings and love without any expectation of return and feels joy at the joy of others gracefully, by which I mean without making the rest of us feel guilty for not being so sweet.
It’s only a small thing, unlikely to change the world, but for them, I made some carrot cake.
Who has touched you with their kindness of late?
Carrot Cake adapted from Joy of Baking
Preheat the oven to 180 celsius (350 fahrenheit) and grease either 2 x 23cm cake tins or 2 x 12 hole muffin tins (I did 1 muffin tin and 1 cake tin).
100 grams (1 cup) walnuts, toasted and chopped
340 grams carrots, peeled and grated (about 2 1/2 cups once grated)
280 grams (2 cups) flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 eggs
300 grams (1 1/2 cups) sugar (I used caster but raw sugar is good in carrot cake)
240 ml (1 cup) plain flavoured oil such as canola
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs for a minute until they are frothy and then add the sugar. Beat again until the mixture is thick and pale, about another 3 or 4 minutes.
Add the oil in a thin stream, beating all the while, then the vanilla.
Add the flour mix and incorporate gently.
Fold in the carrot and walnuts.
Divide the batter between the tins. If you are using the muffin tins, use 18 holes and bake for 15 -20 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. If you are using the cake tins, bake for about 25 – 30 minutes.
Cool on a rack for 10 minutes before removing from their tins and cooling further.
When cold, ice with cream cheese icing (if you did the 2 cakes, sandwich them together with 1/3 of the icing first) and if liked, top with walnuts or marzipan carrots.
Cream cheese icing
50 grams (1/4 cup) softened butter
225 grams (1 cup) cream cheese
230 grams (2 cups) sifted icing sugar
Finely grated zest of one lemon
Beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary or desirable to soften the cream cheese first.
Slowly incorporate the icing sugar and finally add the zest.
NB: I’ve used U.S cup measurements here.
Leave a comment, make my day!
Nice post Sasa- As far as who has touched me with kindness I’d have to say the people I work with and many in my community. Our town has about 6000 people and recently has put on benefit dinners for one of our kids who lost a leg in Afghanistan, raising over $25,000 for her and her family.
Tonight we’re hosting another benefit dinner for a couple of local guys fighting cancer. As one of the co-organizers I’ve been blown away by the outpouring of volunteers and folks who come up and just ask what they can do and gladly help. It’s cool.
Too often I find that the negative events in our lives, be they small or large get all of the attention. I’m coming to the realization that there is a lot more good out there than bad, and the more attention we give the good, the more good we receive in return. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I struggle with sometimes being a glass half empty kinda person but like when you see a new word you’ve learned everywhere, maybe if you focus on the good stuff, it seems to show up everywhere too.
That’s such a sweet post! I’m also touched by human kindness every day and I try really hard not to take it for granted because you only need to look around you to see all the human UNkindness that’s taking place.
And YUMMY MUFFINS!
Thanks…I think I’m guilty of some of the human unkindness…I blame hanger ;P
OH and I forgot to say that the little carrot is insanely cute :)
The one cake in the world I do not like. I hated carrots when I was a kid and carrot cake was like an abomination in my eyes. Haha. It’s funny that I like carrots just fine now but still don’t like carrot cake.
Weird, ‘cos it doesn’t even taste of carrots. I mean, it’s basically a vehicle for cream cheese icing, innit.
These carrot cake muffins are so pretty and thank you for your comment as well. That was a little act of kindness! Brought a smile to my face :) x
Oh, those are so beautiful!
Thanks! Confession: They have a lot of good decorations in the supermarket here in Austria, I didn’t make the marzipan carrots!
One of my favorites has always been carrot cake. Except yours is cute and hand-held. As for being touched by kindness, I am usually a negative sort of guy. I haven’t really noticed if anyone has done anything for me. I just recently attended a 2 day management development seminar, and I was blown away by how genuine and personal the two people leading the course were. They have since made unscheduled, unpaid meetings with me to gauge development. That is the closest thing to kind that I have noticed. I wish I had a story of world peace, or stopping hunger, or all of the world’s children get a new pony. Maybe your post just prompted me to take a bit more notice of the little things.
Yep, pretty hard to notice things like world peace when it ain’t happening :( I’m glad you like the hand-heldness, I’m Japanese like that about cute stuff, hehe.
Apropos of nearly nuthin’, I wish my sad faces and smileys didn’t automatically get turned into icons – they are really *un*cute.
Salivating!! I’ve been too lazy to make anything this cool, with the carrots and what have you.
Come on Cam’ray!
It’s the little things, little gestures of kindness that count and make a difference in everyday life. An old teacher of mine gave me supporting words about my career development, and reminding me to be a bit more forgiving with myself. It was really important for me, small thing for her to share her experience and tips. I try to give a kind and lovely vibe with everyday things, no matter if I’m interacting with a sales clerk or co-worker. I love the way how the food blog community works sharing inspiration and support. I really get a lot of energy from fellow bloggers as well!
The recipe looks wonderful. Cream cheese frosting is my fav. Carrot cake is the perfect base for it:)
If giving off that vibe is your aim, it works, I’m feeling it!
Sweet post! I have actually been touched by two things recently. First I lost my wallet, and several days later someone from the neighborhood just showed up at my door with it, with all the cash inside.
Secondly, my husband and his sister recently produced a short little film on a boy in Kenya who needed but couldn’t afford a kidney transplant. It aired on the local news, and within a few days complete strangers had given the $15,000 necessary for the operation!
Unbelievable (the wallet) and touching (the kidney), great stories, thanks Liz.
Very inspiring indeed! I find jotting down a few things that I’m grateful for each day helps me remember how much abundance there is in my life.
I’ve been obsessing about carrot cake lately and this is another recipe I will have to try. The carrot toppings are adorable.
These cakes are oh so cute and I love the fact that the mini carrots also remind me that the easter bunny will soon be paying us a visit :-) Love the photo and the frosting. Thanks for making us think about all the nice things people do for us: I’m in a presentation club and one woman offered to lend us her beamer at really short notice while others are always helping out when you need them most. I’m always astonished how much people are prepared to do. Have a good Friday!
mmmm… i do believe this too sasa.. that goodness can be spread as easily as cruelty..
my example is not as big as a charity, or voluntary work etc..
Its a person called Pantelis whom I have only met very recently but has been so very supportive and helpful to me now that my sis is in the hospital.. although he could very easily think “lets just take a step back and not get involved-i just met the lady” he has been there for me in an unbelievable way…
They look gorgeous-I love the little carrots on top! I am constantly being surprised at the kindness of others (and sadly a bit shocked at the nastiness of some).
Comments on this entry are closed.