KINDNESS COUNTS

Strength of survivors in focus By Farah Jadran

When I think of the term, "survivor," I think of the people who are doing the surviving. A survivor is a person: someone who is finding strength, courage and the will to fight. The fight can be in a number of areas. Whether it's a fight to survive a disease, domestic violence or sexual abuse, the battles are hard and hope can sometimes appear to be faded or gone.

Our hope is where our strength begins and then the support of others helps fuel our ability to push forward. In this month of October, the stories of breast cancer survivors come front and center with the awareness month. Last month, stories of ovarian cancer survivors were shared more.

When you're on the outside looking into the battle of a family, friend or co-worker, you likely feel helpless. It's not your fight to take on physically and mentally. While you work through the helpless moments, the gift of perspective will come your way. What you do with it, is your big test. If you pray, then pray and if you are up for it, then show your support. Support comes in many forms. I don't need to explain that, but I do encourage you to search within yourself to find how you can give that person your love and kindness.

To all survivors, I send you my prayers and my kindness. You are warriors to be reckoned with. You have shown strength some may never know. I stand with you as a fellow survivor of cancer, sexual assault and domestic violence. I thank all who have been there for me. Feeling someone's prayers in action and hearing their support are all gifts I carry in my heart.

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.