"Be
kind, for everyone you meet
is fighting a hard battle." |
~Plato |
I've been telling a lot of people
lately that I think we as a society
currently lack basic human kindness
toward each other. It seems we were
a lot kinder to each other a mere
10 years ago. I think our full, busy
and stressful lives have been a big
contributor to our lack of kindness.
We just don’t have time for
it any more.
I have yet to find anyone who disagrees
with this.
I wish someone would.
I think if we were just a little
bit kinder to each other, we would
all feel better, be less stressed,
and feel a bit less isolated.
Kind
is defined at the unabridged dictionary.com
as:
1. of a good or benevolent nature
or disposition, as a person: a kind
and loving person.
2. having, showing, or proceeding
from benevolence: kind words.
3. indulgent, considerate, or helpful;
humane (often fol. by to): to be
kind to animals.
4. British Dialect. loving; affectionate.
Quite often I see that infamous bumper
sticker "Practice Random Acts
of Kindness." I like that concept
and yes, I sometimes do pay for the
toll for the car behind me, although
FastTrack, the automated toll payment
system here in the San Francisco Bay
Area, has put a slow down to that
random act.
So I think random acts of kindness
are great, but they are just that...
random. What if I actually go through
my day consciously choosing to be
kind to those whose paths I cross?
What if I were to be a kind and loving
person? What if all my words were
kind words? What if I was considerate,
helpful and humane to all beings?
What if I was loving and affectionate
even in those moments I think someone
doesn't deserve my love and affection?
Malcolm
Cohan, the founder of The
Rocket Ship,
has a great tool that helps me to
be a kinder person in almost any situation.
When I feel my kindness drain from
every cell in my being toward someone
else, before I react in a negative
way, I just say "Totally Cool".
That's it. Those are the magic
words for me. "Totally Cool."
This
gives me that second or two to gather
my thoughts and answer the question, "What
kind of a human being do I want to
be in this situation?"
Try it.
I also challenge you to try for a
few days to consciously walk through
your life with an intention to be
a kind person.
When you are doing this, I hope our
paths cross. Wouldn't that be
nice to come across a truly kind person
when you need one the most?
"Too
often we underestimate the
power of a touch, a smile,
a kind word, a listening ear,
an honest compliment or the
smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential
to turn a life around." " |
~Leo
F. Buscaglia |
Step into leading and play a Bigger
Game in your life...don't
wait...model leadership...the
World needs us to do this.
Lead Strong!
Pat
Human
Relations
The six most important
words: "I admit I made a mistake."
The
five most important words: "You
did a good job."
The four most
important words: "What is your
opinion?"
The three most important
words: "If you please."
The
two most important words: "Thank
you."
The one most important
word: "We"
The least most
important word: "I"
~ Author Unknown
Knowing
Dorothy
During my second year
of nursing school our professor gave
us a quiz. I breezed through the
questions until I read the last one: "What
is the first name of the woman who
cleans the school?"
Surely
this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning
woman several times, but how would
I know her name? I handed in my paper,
leaving the last question blank.
Before the class ended, one student
asked if the last question would
count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the
professor said. "In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are
significant. They deserve your attention
and care, even if all you do is smile
and say hello."
I've never
forgotten that lesson. I also learned
her name was Dorothy. ~Joann C. Jones
by
Sharon Salzberg
by
Pema Chodron
by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval