05 Dec The Art of Being Kind
‘The World’s Need’
“So many gods, so many creeds —
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.”
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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I was back in Tampa in July 2016 and found a notebook from 2007 where I had jotted down this poem. I can’t tell you exactly how many times I’ve thought of it in the past 4 months, but the answer is definitely ‘very often.’
As each horrifying terror attack, senseless shooting, hate crime, or article about ISIS or the civil wars in various countries around the world stream across our newsfeed, I wonder why hate is so dominant.
When we read about entrusted public servants embroiled in corruption scandals, stealing from the very citizens that they vowed to serve, I think, how can a person be so greedy?
When a person uses their religion as a excuse to judge others or treat them poorly, I wonder how is that what they have been taught in their religious scriptures?
I’m No Saint
I’ll be the first to admit that I can get caught up in drama. It’s why I try to avoid it in the first place. I’ll also admit I can get irritable and complain about people or situations. I can be very passionate about my personal beliefs and sometimes impatient with others that don’t share them. None of these are very productive.
As many of you may have also noticed, it seems that the media we consume is increasingly more dramatic, finger-pointing, ganging up on a person or group, biased, and mean-spirited. I’m not talking about a well-positioned argument that was poignantly written and exposes a person’s negative behavior. I’m referring to the articles with aggressive headlines and no value-add content. And I’m sure at some point I was riled up by it, engaged with it, or maybe even shared it.
We’re at a tipping-point. There’s too much negativity out there.
First, we can start by identifying and ignoring content that’s instigating reckless negativity. (I’m not talking about things like Saturday Night Live, that’s funny!) Certainly we can stand for what we believe in, but in a more positive and productive manner.
Being Kind, Everyday
And then, we need to flood the world with kindness. Individual acts on a daily basis.
So I propose we each work on being kind. Let’s make kindness contagious by:
– treating others how we would want to be treated
– being open-minded and inclusive to others…maybe you’ll find something in common and build a new friendship
– participating in our community, to strengthen bonds and provide support to others
– aiding others in their time of need
Being kind is all the sad world needs.
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What advice do you have on ways to be kind, or do good deeds regularly that you can share?
Leave a comment below!
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