Kindness First and Foremost

Something has really got under my skin particularly in the last year and that is how ready people are to cast the first stone. In modern lingo that might be passing judgement without full understanding, gossiping without consideration of the impact of our actions, naming and shaming on social media when we seldom know the full facts or even if the source was reliable in the first place, criticising others particularly in terms of covid regs without seeing the bigger picture, criticising generally because it doesn’t align with our perspective which we assume is the only ‘right’ one etc.

But how often do we stop and think about the deeper affect of our own actions when we do this? How often do we consider the impact on the victim of our belittling and judgement. How often do we actually reflect on our own consciousness and consider that we are all flawed in some way?

I just wonder because in a world where we also share and retweet memes about kindness because those memes inspire us to be better, how often do we challenge ourselves first to step up to the mark? Kindness isn’t limited to acts for those we love but also those we don’t!

Kindness

Advertisement

Does the World Owe You Anything?

Human Values

Perception

A Thousand Candles Shining Bright

Let us stand and let’s defeat them
Let their terror never win
Let their thoughts be ever vanquished
Let only love creep in

Let our minds be fully focused
On a world in harmony
Filled with joy, kindness, compassion
Where hope burns eternally

Let us represent all goodness
Let us break the code of hate
Let us unite through diversity
A new world then create

Where London Bridge is burning
With a thousand candles shining bright
Dispelling darkness from our streets always
Each and every day and night

Kindness

Mirroring a pure heart
That uplifts and encourages
With patience and inclusivity
Not stripping down another to smooch with self
Reflective and enduring
Each and every day

Enemy!

Have you ever stopped an wondered if
Your enemy became your friend
How much your worlds could then be healed
How much you’d make amends
For all the times of hatred
And all the times of pain
A joining of two forces
Where each could then refrain
From a world intent on bitterness
Anger, reprisal, doubt
And where compassion and kindness
Would prise the goodness out!

Break Ups

You marry them and you think
Life’s going to be fine
But that’s not always the true case
As you find out down the line
When they screw you over
Lie and deceive
And then try to pretend
That it would be great if you two could
Remain the best of friends
Yet that is not how it works out
For if you want to stay
A friend with your ex, I suggest
You play fair every day
Be honest, show integrity
In everything you do
Even when you want to split up
Be kind; compassionate too
And think just what you are doing
To the one that you have loved
Put yourself in their shoes for a while
And approach them with kid gloves
Considering how you would feel
If you were in their place
For break ups are quite hard to bear
So tiptoe with much grace
And concede that emotions will
Fly round and round a bit
As hurt subsides and passions cease
To have such a snug fit
And then leave space where it’s needed
Respect your ex and wait
Until they want to speak to you
Until their nerves don’t grate
At just the mention of your name
The smell of aftershave
Or perfume that they recognize
For you’re not there to save
Them from their fate nor control them
Tell them what to do each day
Nor interfere with their lives for
You chose to walk away
And as such you much thus accept
That though you’d like to be
Their friend forever, as you once were
You have to set them free
To live, to learn and love again
To find their own heartbeat
For then in time you may find out
They’ll be prepared to greet
You as a friend and say hello
Maybe even share a brew
But when alls said and all is done
It will be down to you
To handle your relationship
The way that you would choose
How others would also treat you
Then you’ll have nowt to lose!

Spread a Little Happiness

Impinge another’s happiness
And you will sadly find
That your contentment is withheld
Dooming your state of mind

Disempower another
And stop them in their tracks
Then similarly your own way will
Be blocked and held right back

Yet champion each other’s cause
Act less self centeredly
To find when it’s about the us
It enhances the me

So blow in winds of compassion
Rain drops of kindness too
Shine beams of care and hope and love
To make the happy you

Life’s Garden

Grow the stuff of empathy
Cultivate compassion too
Nurture love and helpfulness
Bring concord into view
To propagate a garden
In life that smells so sweet
Full of flowers and natures goodness
To grace each one you meet