During my very bad 2014, I've been thinking a lot about that saying. You know the one:
Always be kind, because everyone is struggling with something.
It's really one of those things that really hits home once you get nice and acquainted with struggle. See the thing is, we tend not to talk about our problems. Partly because we (often times correctly) assume that the person we're talking to won't want to hear it. Or sometimes because of pride. Or because it hurts too much. The reasons are endless.
Thus, most people could be struggling with huge, seemingly insurmountable problems and they won't talk about it.
And although we do it ourselves all the time, we forget this is true for other people. So the woman who's working three jobs to put food on the table becomes rude instead of exhausted. The man who's facing financial ruin becomes short-tempered instead of stressed out of his mind.
Then on top of this, the way we react toward such people make them withdraw even more. Just like you do when someone adds hurt on top of the bad stuff you're going through.
So yeah, I've come to realize just how important it is to be kind. If for no other reason, because I've been in a situation where even a tiny amount of true kindness means so much.
Have you ever been in a tough place, and the people around you made it just a bit worse?
7 comments:
This is why I try to be as kind to people as possible, especially when I'm at the grocery store, or at a restaurant, etc, and the person helping me seems like they're having a bad day. A little kindness goes a long way. Very rarely are people rude just for the sake of being rude.
Oh, I have certainly been guilty of being snappy or rude when life isn't going exactly the way I think it should go. More than once I've ended up going back to a store and apologizing for being so rude the day before. As I have gotten older, that happens less, thankfully. I've become more patient as I've aged, which is a good thing for sure. And I also try to take into account that other people may have their reasons for being rude. It's so much easier to deal with stranger-rudeness when you let it roll off your back instead of taking it personally. Good post!
Kind, yes, but not at the expense of oneself. Early experiences with open kindness have taught me that there are as many people who will take advantage of or lash out at kindness as there are who genuinely need it.
https://njmagas.wordpress.com/
PS
I had to go through seven captchas before I found one I could read. :(
So true about being kind to people; I've learned over the years to try to be as kind as I can because we have no idea what the person we are dealing with has gone through that day; trouble with kids, love one dying or sick, etc. Kindness does go a long way!
betty
Great reminder to be conscious of the fact that the person I am coming into contact with has a whole internal world that I know nothing about. I'm always in favor of kindness.
visiting from a to z.
susan
from clearingspace4joy.wordpress.com
Kindness and not being quick to judge and respond in kind is noble, but very hard in reality to do all the time. People cut you off in traffic, your boss treats you badly, you spill hot coffee on yourself etc. it doesn't take much as the day progresses for you to snap at someone, and they snap back. If we all could just slow down a bit and breathe deeply before we open our mouths it would help everyone. We must keep trying to be kind.
Sandy at Bridge and Beyond
I agree, guys.
Michele, I think everyone has moments of being cranky. It's not on purpose, but sometimes it seems like everyone is thinking that everyone else are just being mean for no reason when it's not true.
Nicky, I agree with you, although here I was speaking more in terms of common decency than the generosity you seem to be referring to.
Thanks for stopping by, Betty.
That's a good way to look at it, Susan.
Sandy, that's true. It's not second nature. It's something we have to work on every day.
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