Probus Clubs & Kindness

Why This Fits a Probus Club

Probus is fellowship, friendship, and fun — not a service club and not a fundraising body. Kindness In Our Homes and Community is an interest and social activity a current member can lead.

Four Ways Your Club Can Take Part

Take what you need from this page. Clubs are not asked to raise funds or report back.

Member-Led Speaking Engagement

The strongest Probus talk is given by one of your own members. We provide the template. They personalize it. The club hears a neighbour, not a sales pitch.

What the talk asks each member to consider

Editable Sample Talk

Sample script — edit freely

Good morning. My name is Margaret Ellis, and I am a member of the Probus Club of the Gateway.

This is not a lecture and it is not a fundraiser. It is a conversation I wanted to bring into our club because it fits how Probus already works: fellowship, friendship, and a little purpose.

The activity is called Kindness In Our Homes and Community.

Thumbs Up For Kindness began when two grandparents wanted to teach their grandsons that kindness is a skill you can practice. They put the tools for people our age on one page:

thumbsupforkindness.com/kindness-for-seniors

Their idea is plain. Kindness is a lifelong superpower. It has no age limit. And it starts at home — with how we treat ourselves as we get older.

Why I said yes to this: After I retired, I noticed I was harder on myself than I had ever been on anyone else. I also wanted a simple way to spend time with my granddaughter that was not just another toy. This gave me both.

Be kinder to yourself as you age. Self-kindness is not selfish. It is the foundation for being kind to anyone else. Their guide offers four small practices: a Kindness Mirror, a Self-Compassion Pause, a one-sentence check-in at night, and one simple comfort a day. When I cannot find the word I want, I try their line: “My brain is buffering.” When the keys vanish: “It’s okay — it’ll show up.” And this one made our table laugh at breakfast: “I’m not losing my mind… I’m just giving it a little vacation now and then.”

My story: Last winter I snapped at myself in the drugstore because I could not remember why I had walked down the aisle. I stood there and used the pause: “This is hard right now. May I be kind to myself.” It sounds small. It changed the rest of the afternoon.

Partner, friends, and family. Kindness at home is usually quiet and repeated. Listen without rushing. Thank the little things. Ask “Would you like a hand?” instead of taking over. Ask “How can I support you today?” Their Kindness Date is simply 30–60 minutes of full attention — coffee or a walk, no phones. With grandchildren, tell one story about a kind act from your own life, take a kindness walk, paint Kindness Rocks, or give the Home Kindness Kit instead of more stuff.

My story: My husband and I started “Thumbs-up Thursday.” Ten minutes after supper. One thank-you each. No problem-solving. It sounds almost too simple. It has softened the week.

If you have a partner, their Kindness for Seniors Pledge was written for this stage of life. If you are on your own, the self-kindness version is enough. You can personalize it later at thumbsupforkindness.com/kindness-for-seniors-pledge.

Community. Kindness leaves the house when we start a meeting with one thank-you, share a real kindness story instead of only the grim news, give someone 10 focused minutes, or leave a painted rock on a trail or downtown. We do not need the club to adopt a campaign. If a few of us try one thing this month, kindness becomes visible where we live.

My story: My granddaughter and I painted six rocks last Saturday. We left two near the water, two on a trail, and she kept two to give at school. She called it her “kindness business.” I called it a very good afternoon.

I am going to hand out a card. You do not have to show anyone. Fill three lines if you wish: kinder to myself… kinder to my people… kinder in our community.

Those who want to can read the short pledge with me. Those who would rather listen, please just listen. Then I will sit down, and if you try one thing this month, tell me at the next meeting. That is how this spreads — member to member.

Thank you. Thumbs up.

Printable Reflection Card

Print several copies. Cut in half if you like. Members keep their own card.

Draw From These Program Pages

The speaker does not need the whole website. These are enough to encourage the spread of kindness from home into the community.