“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – H. H. Dalai Lama
It’s been a year since I gave myself the challenge of writing about kindness once a week. Over the course of the year, other bloggers (Karin at Popping Bubbles, Remote Treehugger and others) have joined in. The meme has been featured on special sites and reviewed by a variety of people. In the end, the challenge I started for myself ends with myself.
Over the course of the year, I’ve learned a tremendous amount about kindness. Here are a few thoughts:
- Kindness is an action, not a thought.
- Being kind takes work.
- Our culture supports brash, rude behavior; kindness is the antidote.
- Everyone, at every moment, is doing the very best they can.
- People want to be kind. When they aren’t, it’s usually because their focus has narrowed on some anxiety or problem.
More than anything, I’ve learned that kindness is always a choice – kindness is always possible.
I haven’t decided if I will continue this challenge or do something else. I will let you know next week. I have learned a tremendous amount over the last two years.
Thank you for coming along with me on this journey.
I think you should continue. Simply Kind Tuesdays lift me up every week. I have had a horribly challenging year (as you well know from listening to my whining) but it’s almost over. I am going to commit to Simply Kind Tuesdays for all of 2010 just to keep me thinking about other people and little random acts of kindness than wallowing in my own crud.
I think kindness is contagious, like smiling is. Let’s hope everyone catches it.
Wow, a year already?
I think it’s great that you kept it up for an entire year. It’s not always easy to find kindness in this world and I’m glad you managed to find it every week for a year.