If you are a long time reader, you'll know I seem to find a theme every year, "words to live by" if you will that seem to come my way at the yearly junction 'tween old and new.
Towards the close of last year "kindness" struck a cord with me.
I read a particularly powerful piece about weathering the storm of argument in a marriage by remaining kind even in the midst of disagreement, I happened to think this was good advice for all sorts of relationships for instance between; siblings, work colleagues, step families, customers/clients and social groups etc. Ever since, a quiet little voice of calm within my head sits on repeat saying "be kind, be kind".
Kindness can take you far and heal rifts and open opportunities.
I think we could all adopt the mantra of kindness to help us through some tricky situations.
If I could work on "patience" too I would surely be an angel on earth, but sadly I seem to be able to work on only one virtue at a time!
If I could work on "patience" too I would surely be an angel on earth, but sadly I seem to be able to work on only one virtue at a time!
Such a lovely word for a mantra, Tanya! I think there are many things about our world that would change if we all brought kindness to the forefront of our minds and let that be the motivation for what we say and do. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the best word I've heard starting out this week :-)
ReplyDeleteSage advice Missy :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, have you received my parcel? Crikey I hope I sent it to the right address!!!
It's so hard to feel kindness these days in the US. There's been so much betrayal by our government. Even our friends, neighbors, bosses, coworkers, and family members suddenly are empowered to unleash and revel in their misogynistic, racist, and homophobic tendencies that were previously tucked quietly away.
ReplyDeleteBeing kind now feels too similar to being complacent and invisible in order to avoid being abused, making it even harder for a lot of us to cope.
I know I need to be kind. I know that. But kindness is really going out in measured and careful doses. If you can strip my friends of their insurance or their marriage certificate or their ability to just get home from oversees where they were doing charity healthcare, why should I do the tiniest thing for you? Why should I let you have any more of me?
I think kindness is out for me. I think hunkering and bolstering are in order. This is awful to admit.