Kindness…I feel like maybe it’s taken me forty something
years to start really appreciating this word, this quality, this attribute.
Sure, I always knew the value of kindness. You can catch more flies with honey,
right? Don’t say something if you can’t say something nice, right? These are
all things we learn as kids, and they should stay with us into adulthood. But
now I’m learning there’s more to kindness, like an inner light, and I think on
some people, it’s much too dim and that is sort of a sad thing. It’s not that hard
to be kind, to let your light shine a bit stronger, even strong enough to touch
someone else. I believe it’s not just an attribute, but one of the most
valuable ones we can have, and it’s something that should be instilled in our
children maybe before anything else.
Throw kindness around like confetti.
It’s busy being a mom. We drive our kids around, feed them,
and schedule them. We encourage them in their sports and personal life, maybe
try to get some faith and religion in, and quiz them on spelling words and
order AP study guides. But what about kindness? Where does that come in? And it’s
not just us being kind to them, we also need to instill kindness, like teaching
them to drive or to eat healthy. I have discovered, more than any other
accolade, award or grade, having someone tell me my kids are kind is one of the
biggest compliments I can receive. Instead of pushing others aside on the way
to the top, isn’t it better to help someone up along the way?
Our world exudes negativity. I hear bashing all of the time,
about our kids teachers, coaches, schedules, work, spouses, kids, obligations. But
if we could only turn it around to shine, to be kind, couldn’t that spread like
a great, good virile epidemic. Negativity is contagious, people can sit around
and gossip, complain, vent for hours. And then they feel drained, exhausted,
used up. But if we look around, isn’t it so much better to be grateful, compassionate,
kind. And if one of us is uplifting, positive and kind, it spreads like a
lovely glow.
Be kinder than you feel.
And it’s easy. Think about going in a building and there’s
someone behind you. How easy is it to hold the door for them, and better yet,
smile? Maybe help an elderly shopper reach something on a shelf or let that guy
with one grocery item go ahead of you in line. Or tell someone thanks. Or exude
a little patience. Or try to turn someone’s negativity into something brighter
and don’t go to the dark side of bashing. Kindness is easy. It doesn’t take up
any more time. And it makes you feel good, stronger, happier.
There’s a song on a CD my yoga teacher gave to all her
students, Nothing More by The Alternate Routes. It says, “To be humble, to be
kind…We are how we treat each other and nothing more.” I love that, because
it’s true. Slip a little kindness in your day. It’s good for you, and watch it,
it just might spread.
Do all things with kindness.
Namaste, my friends.
