KINDNESS COUNTS

Plant your feet for regrowth & recovery By Farah Jadran

Without running a survey or poll in Central New York or beyond, I believe it's safe to assume this is an out of the ordinary summer season. While many can focus on the negatives and what they think they're "missing out on" due to restrictions, for me, this has been an excellent time to focus on positives and soak in perspective.

It's good to be busy and always have people to see and places to go, but it's also a good thing to stop and look around for a bit. We may be missing out on so many things we've been rushing past or putting on hold.

Choosing to be positive and focusing on what is possible versus impossible is how we can become stronger, smarter and more confident.

I look at the "garden" in my backyard and I put that in quotes because it consists of a few flower boxes and also seven pots growing vegetable and herbs. It may not be huge but it's representative of what's possible. New life is possible. A fresh outlook is possible.

If we're willing to take time to nurture ourselves and our loved ones, then we're willing to be patient for regrowth and recovery. Those are both invaluable things. Our health is priceless and our lives are precious.

Isn't it worth slowing down to carefully examine what we need to be healthy and lively? Much of that stems from being more positive, caring and kind to ourselves and to others.

Kindness can change someone’s heart. It can help others realize there is a world around them and more to life than possessions and petty arguments. Kindness can be the message you wear and walk with because you choose to live life with genuine gratitude for each day you are given. Tomorrow is not promised. Why not spend today being kind and being positive? SWM

Farah Jadran is the anchor of CBS5 This Morning and CBS5 News at Noon for CNYCentral in Syracuse. Farah also served as editor of SWM for more than four years after she helped launch it in January 2011. If you or someone you know is spreading kindness in our community -- tweet at her -- @FarahJadran using #BeKindSyracuse.