Kindness

Kindness has been on my mind more than usual lately. I’ve seen time and time again how “users” comment mean things and criticize others on social media simply because they have a different opinion or misinterpret a picture, caption, or comment that was shared. I’ve also been the recipient of some unkind comments recently. All of this hurts my heart to read and hear just how rude people are.

Yes we are all unique & different. No two humans are exactly alike. We all have our own values and beliefs. However that does not give anyone the right to tear others down. As I was driving a few weeks ago, I was waiting at a stop light. For some reason I looked closely and paid attention to the drivers of other cars. I noticed one in particular, an elderly man, who wasn’t smiling. I’m sure he had something going on in his life. I tried to be kind as best as I could from a distance in my car by smiling at him. I thought to myself how we are each like that, trying to make it through life as best as we can amidst the challenges thrown at us. Not all days are full of sunshine and smiles. Some days are good days where we are happy and other days are hard and it gets taken out on others through our actions. Regardless we all need kindness shown to us on both the good and bad days. Kindness may very well turn a bad day into a good day. 

Oftentimes we all are going through something hard, stressful, frustrating, confusing, whatever it may be. Instead of being unkind because of things we can only see on the outside or simple things we view or read online, we all should be more understanding and not quick to judge. I think it’s safe to say most people are kind to one another the majority of the time. There are a few unnecessarily unkind people, but not many. We just never know what someone is going through and what is going on in their mind. Give them the benefit of the doubt and show kindness to all.

Kindness costs nothing and doesn’t take much effort, yet can make the world of a difference. To a person who is struggling, a few kind words may completely change their mindset for the day. It never hurts to be kind. Try a little harder to be a littler kinder.