Hello there and welcome to my 116th blog.
It is my birthday month, and as most of you know, I absolutely love birthdays, and I make the most of each and every one of them. What is perhaps more exciting is the fact that I am into my third year of aiming for an act of kindness every day. This is also my third blog on this very theme. It’s been a roller coaster journey of note, and my thoughts, ideas and modus operandi have changed and altered significantly.
Since the second blog, published in September last year, our lives have changed irrevocably.
What has been unbelievably positive for me is the fact that, in spite of the difficulties we have had, I have still managed one or more act of kindness every single day. I am so very happy about this but now without further ado, let us take a look at the evolution of my mission.
How has my approach to kindness changed?
- I have stopped daily journalling of the said acts. That just seemed to become a bit contrived after a while and did not enhance my life or the kindness deeds I performed.
- I do not post kindness quotes on my various social media platforms as much as I used to. It just has not felt necessary or particularly helpful, or useful.
- More recently I really do not care if people do or do not perform acts of kindness. It’s my mission and not anyone else’s. As previously alluded to, there may be gazillions of people out there sprinkling kindness like confetti, but they just do not feel the need to broadcast this and, quite frankly, good on them.
- In one of my blogs, I spoke of myself as being a superficially kind person, which in retrospect was actually really harsh. I do not think I am inherently kind, but I am a caring person.
- I have seen repeatedly that I can be kind and then a minute later, I may be horrid. That is okay. I am only human, after all.
- Self-care and self-preservation have become even more crucial for me to optimize my health and wellness. Following my bout of ill health at the beginning of the year, I am trying to be super vigilant about taking care of me. With the ongoing stress we remain under, I really need to keep well. Being kind to me is probably as important as being kind to others.
- I believe that I have become stronger in creating boundaries, which sometimes means that I refrain from being kind, and that is okay. The noble acts of kindness I was aspiring to, have indisputably fallen by the wayside, and that is also fine for now.
- My overthinking issue remains a problem. However, by keeping very busy, I seem to be able to keep it semi under control. Sometimes being kind helps this.
- I am learning to make the most of as many moments as I can. Life is fragile and precious. This remains very important, and if kindness forms a part of this, then that is just great.
- I am blessed in that my work allows me to be kind often and with great ease, and that really does make me feel so good.
So, going forward, what will be the face of my kindness mission?
- I would love it if kindness can become enmeshed in my very being, that I do not even think of being kind, that it is just part and parcel of the very essence of me. That my “fake it ‘til I become it” actually happens.
- I would be over the moon if folks were to tell me that their lives have been enhanced by regular acts of kindness. Maybe the fact that I have banged on and on about kindness has helped them to achieve this. In so doing, lives may also have been enriched as a result of this.
- At times I feel that I judge folk and their actions a lot less, and somehow going through some tough times has enabled me to do this. This is really beneficial, and I am hoping that it just gets better and better, which is a kindness act in itself.
- I would hope that from here on I continue to think a lot more carefully before being kind. I need to be able to do this, not expecting anything in return, and following through without being irritated by this. So, I must choose my acts wisely.
- I hope that I may be able to continue to learn and evolve and remain curious, and this may assist in me being a conduit of kindness.
- I need to continue to align my actions with my ideals. This is not an easy one for me but acts of kindness remain consistent with my ideals As mentioned in point 6 above I also do need to be kind to me.
- I love that many folks in the mental health field, describe kindness as cooler than coolness. A great one for me to remember going forward.
- I am hoping to keep remembering that kindness is not weakness, but often actually tolerance. I am not that tolerant at times. Working on this may help me become the best version of myself.
- Historically, I have liked to be the centre of attention, as has been pointed out to me on numerous occasions, much to my chagrin. What I have been striving to do more recently, is to try to sit, listen, and observe. I struggle with this at times but am hoping it will become easier over time. This in itself is a form of kindness.
- I believe I need to talk less about acts of kindness with my near and dear. I think there has been a little overkill and repetition in this department.
- What has been unbelievably good for my self-esteem and self-worth is the fact that my patients really do benefit from the tiny acts of kindness I do for them, over and above my physio treatment, and this makes striving to be kind so well worth it.
- I am blessed to be surrounded, mostly, by people who make it very easy for me to be kind, and for this I feel beyond grateful.
So, folks, in a nutshell, I still believe that kindness absolutely rocks, and really hope that you agree with me.
Let us share kindness, choose kindness, sprinkle kindness, spread kindness and just be kind as often as we are able, for kindness really does matter.
Wishing you all a fantastic rest of week.