kind over matter

Jackie Kurtz has graciously agreed to give a signed copy of her book “Kindness Heroes: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things” to one lucky KOM reader.

Congratulations to Teri Cross!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest.

Look for more giveaways on Kind Over Matter!

THE THINGS YOU TELL YOURSELF MATTER

When you think about taking care of yourself, you probably think about eating healthy foods, moving your body in a way that feels good and getting enough rest. These are all super important, but there’s something missing…what you tell yourself.

What do you tell yourself when you make a mistake?
What do you tell yourself when you don’t get all of your to-dos done?
What do you tell yourself when you forget something important?
What do you tell yourself about who you are?

These are all vitally important pieces of taking care of yourself.

I’m not going to tell you to look in the mirror and tell yourself something that you don’t believe. In my book, that’s not self-kindness – it’s kinda the opposite. What I am going to tell you is to consider what you tell yourself. https://kindovermatter.com/the-things-you-tell-yourself-matter-2/

Bruce Black is featured in today's Poetry Corner.

Take one smile and mix it
with a welcoming handshake

Simmer a cup of understanding
with a tablespoon of acceptance

Continue reading "A Recipe for Kindness" here: https://kindovermatter.com/a-recipe-for-kindness/

Kimberly shares the 4th chapter of Ma-ma Land.

This is the fourth chapter of a KOM-original serial whose first three sections are here: #1, #2, and #3.

One day I got so bored I just went to the bookstore and started opening books at random.

“Tell me who’s that writing, John the Revelator?” sang the waitress as she came up to take my order. I emitted a sound halfway between a chuckle and a gasp. Larkin Poe’s version will give you a sense of the effect this woman’s rendition had on me. From that instant, I was in love with her. Can you blame me?

I should explain that I was sitting in a barbecue restaurant alone, writing in a notebook. It was an unusual thing to do. Most of the other people were drinking, but all my Tennessee Whiskey was on the jukebox. Anyhow never mind about Susie. She’s not the point of this story.”

That excerpt didn’t seem bad, but I’m so impatient now with everything and my attention span is shot. So I flipped to back of the book to read the blurb.

“Flowers on my Tomb is half a ghost story, wrapped in a love song. Taylor Swift’”

That was the endorsement, in white bold letters, above the blurb. I love Taylor, so that made me more interested. Then the blurb said:

Continue reading here: https://kindovermatter.com/ma-ma-land-chapter-4-2/

Sherry discusses how to help yourself and others to find the light.

Hello my Kind Over Matter friend. I’m sending you love.

This has been a season of grief for me — and, also, for many people I know. There is a lot going on in the world and sometimes it can feel as if everything has been sped up, whirling and twirling at a sudden increased speed and intensity.

If you are reading this and you are in a light and sunny space, I am so glad. I hope you will use your good energy to smile at a stranger in the market, send a greeting card to an old friend, or volunteer at an organization that you believe in.

I hope you will multiply your light by sharing it.

For anyone who may be a little lost in fear, anxiety, or depression, I want you to know that you are not alone. Ram Dass said, “We are all just walking each other home.” I believe that.

Continue reading here: https://kindovermatter.com/finding-the-light-switch/

Kind Over Matter is so happy to feature a new book giveaway!

Please enjoy this excerpt from “Kindness Heroes: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things” by Jackie Kurtz.

There are 2 ways to enter to win a FREE signed copy:
1. Engage with this post with your email address (so we can contact you)
2. Email us at [email protected] with the Subject: Kindness Heroes giveaway entry

The winner will be randomly selected on 6/1/26 and announced on our website and social media. By entering this contest, you give consent to Kind Over Matter to use your name for promotional purposes on our website and on all social media.

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In a world often overwhelmed by negativity and division, Kindness Heroes offers something we all need: hope. This powerful and heartwarming collection shares true stories of ordinary people who choose to care, show up, and create positive ripples in their communities.

These aren’t celebrities or billionaires, they’re students, teachers, parents and neighbors who saw a need and chose to act. These stories feature Matt’s Kindness Ripples On (MKRO) grant and award recipients, people whose generosity and courage are transforming lives and communities in meaningful ways.

Rooted in the legacy of Matt Kurtz, a young man who believed deeply in the power of kindness, this book was born from grief transformed into purpose. Through Matt’s Kindness Ripples On, his family honors his memory by uplifting stories that inspire hope and human connection.

Whether you’re feeling discouraged, wondering how to make a difference, or simply needing a reminder of the good in humanity, Kindness Heroes will resonate deeply. More than a collection of stories, it’s an invitation, a gentle nudge to believe that what you do matters and that every ripple begins with one small act.

Read an excerpt from Jackie's book and enter to win a FREE signed copy here: https://kindovermatter.com/book-giveaway-and-excerpt-kindness-heroes-ordinary-people-doing-extraordinary-things/

DO SOMETHING FOR YOU

You were probably never taught to listen to what you want. Most of us follow a pretty similar path to the people around us without thinking too much about it.

Fast forward 10, 20 or more years and you start hearing everyone talking about a midlife crisis. What if the midlife crisis is actually the first time any of us has ever listened to what we want? What if it’s the time that we question the why behind what we do and really consider if it makes us happy?

So many times I hear people telling me about their accomplishments and successes, and there’s no joy in it. They’ve done all the things that they’re “supposed” to do, but still don’t feel the way they’d expected to feel. Instead, they feel burnt out, empty and dull.

There’s not a magic cure, but there are some really powerful baby steps you can take. The first place to start is doing something for yourself...https://kindovermatter.com/do-something-for-you-2/

We’re excited to announce the winner of our May, 2026 Matt Kurtz Kindness Grant for her wonderful kindness project. The grant was given by Matt’s Kindness Ripples On (MKRO), an organization that encourages acts of kindness by helping people who have ideas for kindness projects but lack the funding to follow through on those ideas.

Congratulations to Nisha Evangelista.
She will receive a grant to help fund her acts of kindness project!

Read about Nisha's kindness project here: https://kindovermatter.com/matt-kurtz-kindness-grant-winner-announcement-20/

Susan discusses how the creative arts can contribute to longevity.

A new study has discovered that engagement in the creative arts can contribute to longevity of life. Actively creating art, as well as engagement with the arts, seem to have similar effects. A healthy diet and participation in exercise have long been considered ways to prolong life, but these findings published recently at NPR surprised even the researchers.

Perhaps it is not surprising. Artists and sculptors, creators in wood and fiber, have often discovered ease and relaxation in the movements and focus of their work. Those who work in the needle arts, like crochet and knitting, move repetitively, with attention to the yarn and the needles. Creative activities reduce stress; the reduction of stress can reduce the inflammation in the body, one of the prime contributors to aging. The act of creating is a singular focus.

One of the definitions of meditation is “the act of giving your attention to one thing.” Creative arts are often simply meditation in motion.

In these busy, mind-driven lives we all lead, though, just how often do we give ourselves permission to be creative?

Continue reading here: https://kindovermatter.com/time-to-create-2/

EVERY STRENGTH, WHEN OVERUSED, BECOMES A WEAKNESS

Strengths-based leadership is all the rage and I 100% support it! I believe in the power of knowing your strengths, and in aligning work that matches up with those strengths...mostly!

Even too much cake is, well, too much. Even strengths need to be checked, because as many others before me have said, a strength overused becomes a weakness.

Case in point:

*Detail oriented becomes stagnation.
When you are TOO great at details, they can trip you up. If you obsess over every detail, you never move forward. Hence the phrase, "lost in the details."
*Organized becomes rigid.
I love organization and calendar appointments are my love language, so I know all too well...

https://kindovermatter.com/every-strength-when-overused-becomes-a-weakness/