Mostly Kind
We love all or nothing thinking. The extremes are always more dramatic and draw more attention. Being mostly something doesn’t get as much attention. It almost feels like a partial failure because it didn’t make that 100% mark. We need to reconsider the value of every level. And celebrate the success of every level.
The Kindness of Strangers
Buttons get pushed both ways. If a total stranger approached you and asked you to do some random easy act, you would hesitate for a nano-second and then do it. Part of our nature is to support our neighbors, even when we don’t know their names. It is the courteous thing to do. Human beings like to help other human beings.
Incidentally Unkind
Sometimes, the wrong button is pushed and no kindness occurs. It happens. Sometimes it isn’t even the actual event, it’s more the timing. In the real world, accidents happen most often at intersections even though there are lots of lights to direct the flow of traffic. The later result is often a need to kick ourselves. But after the slip, there is an opportunity to figure out what happened to trigger the unusual reaction. If it wasn’t intentional, it has to be due to some other reason. The oversize reaction is because it wasn’t part of the plan.
Sincerely Kind to Yourself
Forgive yourself first. If you can treat yourself well, you can treat others well. It doesn’t mean that you are always in the right; it means you can discern when you have done it wrong. Reserve condemning yourself for the big errors. Make proper amends. The larger percentage of you is doing the kind thing well. Remember, it’s just math.
Would you want to be kind 100% of the time? Can you forgive your own slips in kindness the same way you forgive others? What is your go-to method of punishment?
