Make America Kind (Again) is an important idea for me. Kindness means being nice instead of mean. It also includes being kind/nice in the face of meanness. Kindness involves being considerate, gracious, and forgiving.
My good friend Deb has a simple tattoo on her right wrist. It says, “Be Kind.” She has it facing outward to remind people to be kind as she shakes hands or reaches out in any way. At the retirement party for Deb two years ago, we all got temporary tattoos with that message. A couple of her proteges got real tattoos to honor Deb’s passion about kindness.
I have written before about the coffee shop in town called Kind Coffee. The organization suggests that being kind involves THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LIFE IN THE PRESENT TO PRESERVE FOR LIFE IN THE FUTURE. Therefore, the coffee sold provides environmental sustainability by being chemical free, fairly traded, shade grown, certified organic, and good for you and the environment. The business notes that “Kind is what coffee should be.”
The Dalai Lama stated, “My religion is kindness.” All religions indicate the importance of practicing loving kindness. In the Christian tradition, Mathew 7:12 indicates Jesus said, “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” The Islamic Prophet Muhammad emphasized, “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” Kindness is at the core of all spiritual and humanistic paths.
I believe, as these spiritual leaders advocate, if we dedicate our lives to kindness and to the qualities of care, we create peace on earth. This approach would lead to social justice and the healing of our environment.
Every year on November 13 is International Kindness Day. I thought about writing this blog closer to that date but decided to do it now. Every day should be Kindness Day. Kindness is a conscious choice and not just a random act. A belief in the goodness of people is expressed through kindness.