I don’t know about you, but somestimes I forget to be kind.
For example, I haven’t been getting my mail. Not sure what to do, I waited a week then took my sanity into my own hands and telephoned my post office.
That didn’t go very well.
I’d like to tell you that I was completely reasonable and they were jerks. But alas, I lost my cool.?Rather than defend my behavior, I’ll tell you that when I had a breath, a moment, a second to respond, I did remember kindness.
After listening to the supervisor say that the hardworking folks at USPS were doing their best, I realized that there was no way to back out of the situation. ?
“Ok,” I said.?
And in that moment, I realized that I forgot to be kind. ?
Crap.
Truth be told I really wanted to be right. ?I also didn’t want to be a doormat or a push over. ?And I was deeply frustrated. (I’m expecting an important package that was mailed from California a week and a half ago.)?
Caught up in my own drama, ?I forgot about the other guy.?
Kindness is a work in process. Next time, hopefully, I’ll chose kindness.
What keeps you from picking kindness sometimes?
?
Simply Kind Blogroll?
A Touch of Inspiration
By the light of the Moon
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Suburban Diva
Kim Smith ??
Miss Riss
Mom?s Musings
Not a Mean Girl
Popping Bubbles
Remote Treechanger
Storyteller
Waiting 4 the news
I am most likely to react less kindly than I would like when I feel that I am being treated as if I don’t matter. It’s definitely a trigger that I need to monitor carefully.
I hope you get your package soon.
Claudia,
I mailed a package to Portugal last week; it arrived in 1 1/2 days. No lie. It can happen. There may be kindness in reminding this struggling agency that it should meet a minimum quality standard.
I forget kindness when somebody comes to a dead stop before turning left or right off the road–WITHOUT REASON. Makes me nuts. I growl in the car. Not kind.
what stops me? Sometimes my impatience, sometimes I’m triggered by my own stuff and react from there. It is a work in progress as we are.
I wrote a piece on the weekend about a little boy who lives in my city and his kindness. I think you’ll like the story.
Frustration and feeling like I am not being taken seriously are two things that stomp my kindness gene. I think you had every right to ask about your mail. A week with no mail, not even crappy junk mail, is unheard of and somethinfg is definitely wrong.
I hope it gets worked out soon! (((HUGS)))
I wonder what happened to that “no sleet, no rain” motto that postal service lives by ;o)
I can be less kind when I’m not feeling well although I try not to take that out on anyone. I’m also not as kind when I cuss out other drivers from behind closed windows.
I hope you get your package soon! Don’t feel too bad about your call with the USPS. It can be extremely hard to keep your cool when dealing with someone over the phone. Hugs!!
Thanks, Claudia, for being honest!
I get grumpy when I’m too busy and under pressure. Usually, I just feel it inside and try to show kindness, but it doesn’t always work as you mentioned.
The most difficult thing for me is showing true kindness to those who have hurt me, and are not sorry, leaving any ‘paying back’ to the Lord.
I hope you get your mail soon. I tend to forget kindness when I am my wit’s end….those days when I am just exhausted. I can’t be nice to myself much less than anyone else. Thankfully those days are far and few between!
I’m all for kindness, but a week without mail, that’s worthy of at least a couple seconds of cliched teeth. I hope you get our mail and that to be kind, they also offer an apology to you.
Great post.
I can so relate.
I’m more likely to act unkindly when I believe folks have attitudes, are blowing me off, being patronizing, condescending, arrogant, racist, supremist and just not very kind to begin with.
My friend says if you encounter more than three assholes on any given day – then you’re the asshole! Thanks for the post and the links.
I have always been taught to “speak politely” ..to be respectful .. so most times I expect other to be the same way… it takes a lot for me not to choose kindness … usually when I feel taken advantage of, or a blantent episode of disrespect and rudeness!
Heart in SF – I hate that feeling – and I do feel it. I get very intense with that.
Sandy Carlson – Still waiting on mine…. I think the no reason part is the hardest part.
Dana – Ah, impatience. I wish I was much more patient than I am… sigh….
Perpstu – I hate not being taken seriously – that’s really frustrating.
Ivanhoe – grrrrrrr!
Pamela – I’ve been known to use less than kind words in the car too – amazing how that comes out.
Joyce T – Letting the Lord sort it out? Well, how will he know how to sort it out right?
I struggle there too.
Tommie – Everything is harder when I’m exhausted. I’m glad those days are over more.
Tara R – Yeah, well, no apology is coming. We can only hope….
Yasmin – Oh attitudes – oh indeed. So very hard to deal with!
Chris Tolomei – That’s hilarious!
Brandt – It’s very hard to be respectful when people are disrespectful and rude.