Kindness

Random acts of kindness grow and multiply, a ripple in the pond touching all that is within the waters reach. Kindness is the soft drops of water kissing the surface of the blades of grass in the early morning light. Nourishing, refreshing, rejovenating.

“A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.” ~ Washington Irving 

If we all were to have hearts filled of kindness we would be walking temples of peace and love. This may sound a bit utopian for many, but our very auroas glow and send a warmth or a chill to others around. This can produce other auroas, souls, emotions, people, etc.. to change with that temperature, to change with that kindness and compassion or with the lack of.

We are thrown into the real world with the routine of daily living, or to many surviving, with so many pressures, timelines, needs, desires, obligations, all of which are roots of our own suffering. Constantly our mental lists of what needs to be done, what tasks are not completed, what needs to be done tomorrow are ever growing. Consuming our minds, our energy. If we were to sit down though, and note anything that is pleasing, every tiny little thing our energy may become rejuvenated, refreshed like the blade of grass soaking the morning dew. 

Many times the lack of appreciation shown to us for our kindness and good deeds bogs us down. We must remember though that the more important aspect of kindness is the cultivation in yourself of compassion and generosity. 

I believe kindness is the easiest and hardest act to bestow upon others. A simple smile, hello and how are you can go a long way. Yet we walk past the gentlemen walking his dog without any acknowledgement. We ignore the young girl upset in the park. Grumble about the mother with noisey kids waiting in front of us in line at the store. Sneer at the odd teenager with that strange haircut and piercing. No acknowldegment, no kindness. 

The hardest part about kindness, is that shown to yourself. We are our own worse critic.

As part of a meditation technique I have tried to change the kindness I show to myself hoping that it will spread like wildfire to radiate that kindness to others as well. A simple exercise of hope and goodwill. 

Sitting on the floor I close my eyes. I feel the heaviness of my breath that fills my lungs and I try hard to imagine my lungs expand to such a great fullfillment that they can actually feel my ribs embrace them. In essence I am hugging my lungs with my ribs. Yes you can laugh if you want, but for a moment pretend here with me.

I then try to draw my face, not in detail, just the contour of my face. I do this mentally pretending my hand is holding a stick and I am sitting inthe sand. I draw myself in the sand. Once done I stand up, look down at the little girl who drew that person in the sand and I hug her. I tell her that it is the most amazing picture in the sand I have ever seen. Why do I tell her this? Becuase this is what I would tell my daughter. 

Perhaps if we all excerised a little kindness to ourselves it would naturally allow us to be kind to others.