Kindness is underrated. If it weren’t, we’d have more of it. And lordy do we need more kindness.
And by more kindness, I don’t mean less cruelty. We’ve seen heaps of that recently, and we surely need less of it. But cruelty – the intentional infliction of grotesquely unnecessary harm – is as old as human community. I mostly can’t stop cruelty in others, including my government.
Kindness is simpler: the absence of rudeness, the commission of small acts of helpfulness without expecting reward. It costs nothing.
Kindness is a social lubricant for creatures who, like us, must live in community. Our kindness binds us to others, including people we don’t know. With kindness, we affirm our community, even if in the moment it’s a community of two.
Kindness also helps us avoid darkening someone else’s still normal, unremarkable day. That alone justifies kindness.
But there’s more. Because with kindness, we may salve a hurt or boost an aching colleague, friend or store clerk, someone who desperately needs a tiny lift, even if we never glimpsed their ache or hurt.
Be kind.
More About Kindness
Kindness deserts: a rising concern
My favorite scripture is Ephesians 4:32
Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.
DOYLE STANDARD VERSION
I know there’s more.
Timeless advice, Steve.
Amen. I love doing acts of kindness. Thanks.