January 28, 2024: Kindness Matters…We have a Choice
Lately, it seems as if the practice of kindness has faded away. From social media, all the way to the political arena, acts of compassion and kindness seem to be hidden behind a public maelstrom of negativity, ridicule and sarcasm, with little regard to the impact it has on the recipients.
Recently, I posted some bluebird pictures on a local Facebook community page. I shared a picture of a bluebirds in front of a basket of mealworms.
Mealworms, which bluebirds love, are expensive. I mentioned how it has been a challenge keeping the invasive starlings from bullying the other native birds and eating all the pricey food. (FYI-Starlings are not native, brought here in the early nineteen hundreds to Central Park in New York. From the original survivors of 32, there are now over 150 million in the US).
In the same post, I shared pictures of two feeders that seem to deter the bully birds. While most of the respondents shared their frustration with starlings and also tips on where to buy bird food or how to keep starlings out, surprisingly there were some really unkind comments.
For example, I was accused of “racial discrimination”, of not liking birds or wild animals, etc. At first, I thought it was a joke, but these commenters were serious in their attempts to create conflict. While all of us are entitled to our own opinions, we don’t have to be cruel to those who we might not agree with. I’ve noticed similar trends whenever someone posts an opinion on the news…Rather than acknowledge we all have differing opinions, some writers choose to denigrate the post originator.
Each day, we have choices to make in regards of what is happening in our life. Although events happen where we don’t have control, we do have control on how we respond. We don’t have to emulate mean-spirited politicians or answer negative social media posts with defensiveness, ridicule and scorn. We can take a higher plane, committing to acts of compassion and kindness. My favorite guidance when referring to posting/speaking/writing is to ask these four questions regarding on what we hope to convey.
- Is it kind?
- Is it necessary?
- Is it true?
- Can it make a positive difference?
While I do have very strong political views, I refrain from broadcasting them. Instead, if I am posting on social media, I try to post positive messages, often including photographs found in the beauty of nature. With so much ugliness broadcasted daily on the news, my intent is to provide some positive alternatives.
Whatever you believe, whether it’s political, religious, or views on society, we can choose to be respectful of other’s beliefs. We don’t have to agree……but we can choose not to be cruel, judgmental or vindictive.
For further reflections on how Kindness Matters, I’ve gathered some inspirational quotes.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my blog. Please feel free to share it with someone who might find it meaningful. In addition, if you have quotes on kindness that inspire you, we would love to share them as well in the comments below.
Best regards, Wendy Oellers-Fulmer
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
— Dalai Lama
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
― Archbishop Desmond Tutu
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”
— Seneca
“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”
― R.J. Palacio
“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”
― Roy T. Bennett
“With all of the bad things that are happening in the world right now, I think we need a message of togetherness and true unity. I believe that starts with personal reflection and then we can find kindness toward each other.”
― Marielle Heller
“I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.”
― Mother Teresa
“When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.”
― Buddha
“With all of the bad things that are happening in the world right now, I think we need a message of togetherness and true unity. I believe that starts with personal reflection and then we can find kindness toward each other.”
― Marielle Heller
“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.”
― Kahlil Gibran
