October 14, 2018: Butterfly Wings
“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” William Shakespeare
“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” Francis of Assisi
In recent blogs I have written how the overabundance of negative news in the media can be overwhelming, fostering feelings of anxiety, dismay and frustration. In response I’ve shared the healing benefits I’ve found in searching for beauty in nature, and the respite of being unplugged from the cacophony of internet stimulation.
While the state of the world and it’s troubles seems at times unrelenting, I’ve discovered that for me, another antidote is to be aware of acts of kindness. Like a luminous rainbow on a rainy day, a simple act can enlighten someone’s shadows, a potential ripple effect that can change a moment, a day, even a life.
Acts of kindness can be simple, from patiently holding a door open for a struggling walker, to more complex, taking the time to really listen to someone in need, whether a friend or a stranger.
There are numerous synonyms for a kind act that provide a direct contrast to relentless, unsettling news of hostility and tragedy:
warmth, concern, care, compassion, friendliness, thoughtfulness, sympathy, generosity, unselfishness,…
I love to hear and see examples of these behaviors, they lighten my day and restore my faith in humanity. It’s not always easy to be kind, especially when faced with ignorance, indifference, or actual cruelty, but I believe it can make a profound difference.
According to Chaos Theory, tiny things that can change the world. Hypothetically a butterfly can flap its fragile wings deep in the Amazon jungle, beginning the change of events leading ultimately to a tsunami half way across the world..
Kahil Gibran poignantly wrote: “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.”
Like the butterfly, we can flap our own wings. Just imagine a tsunami of benevolence, charitableness and understanding, more synonyms, created by a simple and random act of kindness.
Have you seen any butterflies lately? Share your thoughts in the space below. I’d love to hear them!
June GarenOctober 19, 2018
Great post! I especially love the quote by Kahil Gibran. I feel that now, more than ever before, we all need to put our efforts into shifting the negative energy in the world around to the positive.
WendyOctober 21, 2018
I do too. I feel that if I let my heart be filled with negativity, it clouds the way I look at the world. There is a gift in being able to see the blessings, kindness and joy that is here too.