July 1, 2015

Has anyone else noticed that there has been a lot of negativity in the world lately? It seems like every time I turn on the news at night or log onto social media there is an abundance of intolerance and unkindness going on. I was on Facebook the other night and there was stuff about the ongoing debate about the confederate flag, upholding gay marriage and the bashing of an author.  I couldn’t’ help but think to myself….why is everyone being so unkind?  What good is this really doing for anyone?  What happen to the saying, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”  I remember as a child, growing up with my 4 siblings,  my mom would sing us this silly song every time she caught one of us being unkind to each other.  “I want to be kind to everyone for that is right you see.  So I say to myself, remember this….Kindness begins with me.”

 

What an entirely different world we would live in if we took to heart this simple advice!!  Kindness begins with me.

 

We don’t have to agree with everything that someone else likes or dislikes but  why can’t we be tolerant of that person and allow them to have their beliefs and opinions and live their life the way they chose to live it.  We don’t all like to read the same books or watch the same movies but in the grand scheme of things, does that really matter? Why can’t we just agree that we all have differing opinions, views and beliefs and just be kind to each other?  It doesn’t take a lot of time to be kind, a simple smile when you pass someone in the hall at school or work.  A heart felt thank you.  A hug, even a cyber hug, when you know someone is struggling.

 

I know that I am not perfect and sometimes I judge when I shouldn’t but I am really going to try and be more kind in my own life and hopefully my example will rub off on others.