Without a doubt, we live in a world often filled with stressful situations that test our patience to its limits.
As someone who "kept shop" for a great many years and actually was in a line of retail that was rather "gifty," I often worked long hours during the holidays season.
Being "on the other side of the counter," I often got to see both the best and the worst of humanity. Surprisingly — or maybe not? — the "season of love and good cheer" often brought out the worst in people.
It was understandable enough, in the sense that many felt "obligated" to go shopping and buy things they probably couldn't afford, and the process was taking time away from a job they couldn't afford to be away from.
It became a personal challenge to see if everyone who came through the front door could leave after an experience that made their day even a little bit brighter.
Being kind does not cost extra, but finding those bits of kindness within you — when you've already been at work helping people for nine hours and your feet are sore from standing on a hard floor for 95% of that time — can be challenging.
Sometimes it feels like there is less kindness in the world "than there used to be," and perhaps that is simply the result of the fact that we seem to be "running more" and needing to "get more done" in the same amount of time as we had, 10, 20 years ago and more.
Back then — at it does not — I came to realize that kindness is often a sort of slowing down of the frenetic pace we often feel trapped in.
A moment of kindness breaks state from our intensity... and we can relax, even if just for a few moments.
Meanwhile, when you are out there and in a hurry, take a moment to think kindly of the restaurant server, the store clerk, the post office employee... who perhaps has been on their feet for many hours, and who perhaps have had to appease a long string of frustrated humans!
His Holiness, The Dalai Lama famously said:
"Be kind whenever possible. It is ALWAYS possible!"
I don't tend to make New Year's resolutions, but perhaps I will make it a wish for 2024 — for all of us — that we find a few moments to be kinder to the people in our lives!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great remainder of your day!
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Created at 2023-12-27 15:05 PST
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