Try a little kindness

Today is World Kindness Day.

I dare say most people will make a particular effort to be kind. I certainly hope so. Our world could do with a little more kindness. I hope I am not being cynical – or unkind.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to join a Kindness Walk in a park. It was a voluntary component of our team professional development for one of the volunteer activities I am involved with.

I chose not to go. I felt it was a “tick the box” exercise for a coordinator looking for new “training” ideas and I did not see much point in it. It was simply to make people aware of the importance of being kind. If one doesn’t understand the importance and nature of being kind, should one actually be volunteering to help others at times when they are vulnerable and facing difficult life crises?

It seems strange that one must promote an act that should be practised daily and constantly. And how would a walk in a park help with understanding the essence of kindness? Don’t acts of kindness come from within? From a heart of compassion and generosity?

Perhaps I am just being cynical – and unkind.

Yesterday I was listening to the radio as I drove home. Kindness Day was mentioned, and the speaker was urging people to remember the importance of being kind – to one’s own self. All sorts of self-indulgent activities and mindfulness experiences were encouraged – but not a word about being kind to others.

Surely kindness is an outward-looking activity, focussing on the needs of others. I understand that one must care for one’s own self, but could this one day not be set aside for others? My attitude is that being genuinely kind to another brings joy to oneself as well, and that inner reward is sufficient. That is looking after oneself. A spa or massage does not bring more pleasure than seeing joy or gladness, or thankfulness on the face of another. Again, I am trying not to be cynical or unkind about this spin on Kindness Day.

The quote for World Kindness Day is “Kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the world, no matter what you look like.” That might be the result, but it should not be the motivation.

I prefer these other quotes which are more outward-looking.

“Kindness can make a bad day good, and a good day better.” (For others, but it usually comes with a boomerang effect.)

“Kindness is like a seed that when cultivated can grow and grow and grow.” (Hopefully there will be a visible and productive result with others being kind as well.)

“Kindness is the ability to know what the right thing to do is and having the courage to do it!!” (Sometimes it will involve speaking up for another or standing with them through a trial or grief.)

“Kindness is giving hope to those who think they are all alone in this world.” (We are made for relationship.)

In today’s world we are already too preoccupied with ourselves. Individualism has reached a peak, and community spirit is at an all-time low. If we set aside a day (one day out of 365!) for kindness, and make it a “thing”, are we not still pandering to our own egos in ticking that box and feeling a sense of satisfaction that we participated?

Kindness? Let’s start today, and then let’s pretend tomorrow is also Kindness Day, and the following day, and the one after that. Let’s teach that to our children and grand-children, and let’s model it ourselves. Let’s work towards kindness becoming a daily habit.

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, "You're going the wrong way"

You've got to try a little kindness
Yes, show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way.

….