For the love of kindness....

All to often we find ourselves caught up in undue celerity, surrounded by the loud, the trivial madness in which we've allowed into our lives as "the norm". And quite diligently we invited extra stressors, became blind to karma, and deemed ourselves masters of the universe. We seemingly forgot all the things that we learned in kindergarten and are becoming blind to the fact that we're storing our manners in our back pocket.    

When did it not become acceptable to simply plug both ears while roaring out with might..."NO NO NO NO NO!"? Who decided that it would be a great idea to paint ourselves an illusion about what defines perfection? Why are we all guilty of becoming more selfish, than selfless? Are we just trying to survive?.... feed ourselves before others, make way from the rain with a good shove to another, or be persuasive to gain popularity? With pride, I'll always wave a flag for "the good doers". With my two little feet I'll march a good protest while bellowing aloud...."KINDNESS FIRST!" But even I am not without fault. Like most, my intentions disseminate compassion, but I had to recognize that I was on a path of destructive behavior. However curious as it may seem....  this type of behavior that I admitted was that I too needed a reminder about kindness, love, and an appreciation for gratitude. 

"There's one for the karma bank!" Meaning..... set yourself a goal in the morning to do at least one thing kind today. Hold that door open for somebody, pick up the tab for someone's coffee, or just take a little time to listen to the person behind you in that long line at the grocery store. Of course keep in mind of "stranger danger"..... but having your wits about you can help detour a dirty rotten scoundrel from Ms. Nilly next door. Go an extra mile to make someone's day a little brighter. Meaning..... bring that deck of cards over to that sweet old lady on your block that rarely receives company. Sure, you may have to dodge a few extra kitties, but think of the smile you'll bring and the stories she'll share. You may find yourself learning a thing or two. To bring forth kindness and love has never required a PhD. Nor has it really acquired much effort. And while you're banking up kindness points in the ol' karma bank, you may undoubtedly begin to feel good about yourself. 

"Mr. Grumpy Gills"..... we all know one, or at one time been one. The kind of human being that shuts themselves in, curtains drawn, sulking about how cruel and rotten the world is. Blaming the poor old dog about the bad weather and complaining to the produce manager about cost inflation over bananas. These are my personal favorite type of people. Ya wanna hug em.... though they may bite. You continuously invite them over for a grill out.... but they apparently hate cheeseburgers. So you start slow by offering something you can do, but from a distance..... you pray for them. And not a thing Mr. Grumpy Gills can do about it! It's a proven fact that prayer is a timeless beauty that can heal, provide comfort, and in miraculous ways be most beneficial. And what I love about prayer and find most intriguing is that prayer is a personal and private experience. Anyone and everyone has the right to experience prayer through their choice of Supreme being, a God above, a source of energy, etc. "There's just no wrong way to pray, I say!"

So it is, my dear readers, friends, family, neighbors, and future acquaintances that we're admitting a bit of defeat when it comes to aiding and abetting love and kindness. We're constantly rushing, haggling, and trying to beat everyone else to the finish line. We've become far to consumed by wealth and greed. We're hanging that kitten calendar in the office, where the poor little ball of fluff has stuffed itself into a fishbowl announcing, "hang in there!", but we're still blinded by the reality. Need we go back to the classroom, criss-cross applesauce on our little mat, and begin the day by saying one nice thing to a classmate? 

There's a fine line between surviving and living people. And personally, I want to live. I want to live in harmony with my community. I want to live comfortably, happy with 3 TV channels, satisfied by just a walk through the park not staring down at my feet longing for the newest fad in pricey footware. I'd rather meet my maker one day applauded for being a "good doer" instead of being questioned as to why I didn't help with the grocery spill, or take a little time to draw back someone's curtains to let a little light in.