While deciding where to take you on this month’s blog, the mention of kindness has just about bottomed out when compared to the word’s mention in the 2000s, 1950s, 1900s, 1850s, and 1800s. There was a slight upswing just before COVID-19 made its debut, but outside of this, kindness overall is on the decline. Humans in general benefit greatly from fellow humans exhibiting gentle, caring, friendly, generous, and considerate behaviors; however, there doesn’t seem to be enough kindness to go around.
As we shift into another season, the feeling of kindness eludes many. When it feels as if we wake up to a new world each day, a new trouble to tend to and/or face, resources aren’t lasting as far as they used to, certain safeties that seem to have eroded away can leave our guards up higher than usual. January this year might as well be the 1800s based on the changes we’ve encountered and there are still two more months left to go. Just the simple act of ordering something to eat, I hear more and more that my “Please” and “Thank you” were the first ones of the day (and this is either lunch or dinner). If the world isn’t offering kindness, what’s there to be surprised about?
I’ve pushed the deadline of this blog trying to come up with a satisfactory option and got nothing. Truth be told, you don’t have to be kind, it’s your right, your free will to choose. What I ask of us all is to try. Try despite the hardship, try despite the fatigue, despite this month’s worries, and the next month’s, despite the anger and confusion, despite the grief. It takes more strength and courage than you realize to get back up, soften your heart, and offer the kindness you have to another. No strings attached. I ask you to simply try.
Well said Michelle and I totally agree with what you are saying in this article. Despite everything else, being kind to another will remind them what kindness is and how good it makes them feel for both parties. Despite everything else! Kindness will help it all!