Spot of T - Kindness Matters
The other day, I found a cute little yard sign in a gift shop, and its message was so simple: “Kindness Matters.” Two little words with a powerful message. It has become my new daily mantra. Sometimes kindness doesn’t come easy, but it is always the right course of action. It costs nothing, but it goes so far. Some people are easier to be kind to than others, but I always try to spread a little kindness regardless. I am convinced that those to whom it is more difficult to be kind are those who need it the most.
A few weeks back, I attended an all-day event and was seated in the vicinity of an older dourfaced woman, who was alone. Members of the group she came with warned me about her after the woman gave me a lessthan-lukewarm answer to my greeting.
I decided then and there to make it my mission to be kind to this woman. No matter what. The term ‘kill with kindness’ came to mind. This woman had mobility issues, so I made sure to help her with her chair, with doorways, etc. I had to wonder, why was this woman the way she was? What must her life be like for her to have such a negative outlook?
It wasn’t difficult to be kind. I can only hope it helped make her time there a little more pleasant. As we parted ways, she said the most to me that she said all day. “Thank you for taking such good care of me.” I even got a partial smile. “It was a pleasure,” I responded. Well, that’s a slight exaggeration, but she did not need to know that.
Kindness is not limited to those things we do for people but can also be present in things we DO NOT do. I think we have all been the victim of embarrassing moments in our lives; times when we have committed blunders or mistakes, in a very public way. Whether it be in a high school classroom, on stage during a public performance, or at a social gathering, we have all felt some manner of humiliation.
Years ago, one of my daughter’s classmates accidentally drove his car into my dining room. Yes, you read that right. His car was in my house. I can remember this 17-yearold being mortified. It was a mechanical problem, his accelerator stuck and he lost control. Though my daughter really did not know this boy very well, he was obviously uncomfortable even making eye contact with her or anyone else in school following the accident. My daughter could easily have made fun of him or laughed with her friends about it – instead, she chose to go up to him directly and tell him, “You know it’s OK. No one is mad at you. It was an accident.”
A proud mom moment indeed. Kindness matters.
It seems in today’s world, our blunders are easily captured on cell phone video, or pictures, and they usually get shared on social media. Our shame is no longer ours alone, the world laughs at us as well. Instead of taking part in this kind of amusement, I think we are better served to take that high road and NOT pass along the misfortunes of others publicly. Rather, maybe we could reach out and help them or at the very least, offer a kind word.
Be kind. Kindness matters.
About Brittany Pointe Estates
Brittany Pointe Estates is a gracious Lansdale retirement community that reflects the charm of the region of France for which it is named. Situated in northern Montgomery County, residents of Brittany Pointe Estates senior living community enjoy an abundance of shopping opportunities, cultural offerings, theaters, gourmet restaurants, and beautiful parks that are nearby. Many of the nation’s top hospitals and health care providers are less than an hour away in Center City Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. It is located at 1001 S. Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA 19446 and you can call 267-657-3106 for information.