Be Kind

Written by Jenifer Chrisman on November 13, 2014.

In a world where hypervigilance is becoming the norm, random acts of kindness, especially to strangers, is falling into disuse. Our natural caution, heightened by sensationalized headlines and graphically violent news stories, warns us to keep our distance from any potentially dangerous situation. What was once common courtesy is now hesitation bordering on indifference.

In this modern-day climate, we have trained our minds to overlook acting with kindness where harm may be brought to ourselves or our loved ones. And while this inherent caution helps to keep us safe, the more we close our minds to helping those who could use a hand or a gesture of friendship, the more we become closed to being kind in general, even where no danger is present. It is a trap of the mind…leaving us feeling alone and shut off from a world full of decent people.

But kindness, whether acted upon by us or bestowed upon us, has a momentum all its own. It is a breaker of barriers, a shining light in a sea of darkness and an offer of hope. And because kindness has such wholesome power, our natural tendencies are to “pay it forward.”

How often (especially those who live in a large town or city) have we been driving to…destination of choice…and wanted to make a right turn from a side road, gas station or store, but traffic congestion being what it is there is no break to make the turn? We sit there, irritation flowing off of us in waves, as car after car, bumper to bumper, passes and no one is willing to let us in. But then, unexpectedly, a car slows and stops, letting us make our turn in front of them, allowing us to continue on our way.

Someone out there took the time, probably less than a minute, to do something nice. It wasn’t a momentous thing, although it probably felt like it at the time. And the hard lump of irritation that had built up starts to dissipate, turning into a small smile, brightening what was turning into a really annoying day into something just that little bit better.

But that little kindness doesn’t stop there. It stays with us, hovering in our thoughts.

Although we would like to repay the person who did us the kindness directly, we in turn (as we probably don’t know the person) do something nice for someone else. Very likely we stop and let a random stranger make that right turn. And that feeling of well being jumps up another notch.

And so…a challenge.

There are many “little” things we can do every day to enrich the lives of those around us. And while we should in no way act imprudently (a car on the side of the road with its hazards on can be 1. cautiously approached, doors locked and windows rolled nearly all the way up, to see if the person has a way to contact help or 2. the police can be called to let them know someone is broken down and may need assistance), we should all try to be a little kinder.

The list below is just a small fraction of some simple ways we can do something kind for someone. Remember, as Lao Tzu said, “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

So what will you do?

Acts of Kindness