At the end of every show, Ellen Degeneres reminds us to be kind to one another.
When I first heard this, I thought about how sweet it was. At the same time, strange to have to remind ourselves to be kind to each other. Naturally I thought, isn’t that what you’re supposed to do anyway? What I didn’t realize at the time was how often we forget to be kind to one another and more importantly, ourselves.
In our day-to-day, it’s instinctual to react to the people and circumstances around us. Instead of properly responding to them, we get caught up in the moment and react in a way we regret later on. Reacting to what happens to you is very different from responding to them.
What is the difference you may ask? Reacting is giving into the frustration of the moment. It is complying with the urgent need to convey our feelings, defend ourselves, and speak other truth. Responding, on the other hand, requires reflecting on what happened. Then taking into consideration the other’s feelings and intentions, before crafting a reply.
Don’t get me wrong, speaking your truth is very important. So is showing empathy, tact, and mindfulness. What’s a right and wrong may be different for everyone, however, we can all share a little more kindness, to ourselves and others.
Showing kindness may feel like a rare commodity in today’s crazy world, but you’ll be surprised at how one kind act can make a lasting impact.
Inspired by Ellen Degeneres & a loved one
What I would like to know is – how has someone shown you kindness when you least expected it? How can you show yourself more kindness? And what can you do to help your neighbor or someone in your community achieve their goals? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Many thanks!
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