Celebrating the Power of Kindness by Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC Photo by Andrea Tummon
I
’ve witnessed so many random acts of kindness these past few months. The juxtaposition of these touching moments against the backdrop of a world which sometimes feels cold, confusing, or frightening is striking to me. Let us contemplate and celebrate this outpouring of genuine compassion by diving deeper into this way of being.
Many of our interactions have kindness at the core. The examples are endless — holding an elevator door, complimenting a stranger, running errands for an elderly neighbor, baking treats for the office, leaving a surprise note on a friend’s car, buying the person in line behind you coffee, letting someone into your lane, etc.
First of all, let’s raise a toast to the unexpected joys that simple acts of compassion offer us and the world. Stop for one sweet minute and just breathe in the pleasurable memory of a recent act of kindness someone showered onto you. Can you feel that delicious energy bathe your soul? Kindness matters because it touches our heart in unique ways. It’s a fundamental human value, one that deserves to be ever-cultivated.
These simple gestures can have a profound impact on us, and are especially good for countering feelings of isolation, cruelty, hatred, or evil. Selflessness mirrors our humanity back to us. It echos our longing to be cared for with respect and consideration. Shared compassion enriches our lives, giving greater meaning to it. How we treat each other impacts our sense of human dignity. So why not, whenever possible, be truly, deeply, unapologetically kind?
24 | The Brick Magazine
