The kindness news station.. would you watch it? Think about CNN but like all the kindness and happy things happening in the world. Would you honestly watch it? I would.
You know what’s funny… most people I asked this question to said no. Why? Why wouldn’t you want to watch the joy and beauty in the world? The answer I got from people: “because I would be too emotional watching all the nice things, plus it would probably get old.” WHAT?! Really? The kind, beautiful, amazing things happening in the world would get old? What about CNN, BBC, or any news station for that matter… does that terrible information ever get old? But you still watch it!
We spend so much time watching and hearing about the tragedies in the world we have become immune to them. We don’t cry about sad things anymore, we don’t have reactions the same way because we see it all the time. But the fear you can see in someone when you mentions a Kindness News Station is unreal. Why are we afraid of kindness?
Kindness isn’t easy for us, we have to think about it. And then we have to think about not getting recognition for being kind because everyone always wants recognition. How about just be kind? Just be kind to everyone, not just the people you know, but everyone. You don’t know everyone’s story, you literally see people for minutes, sometimes seconds in their day — they have a whole life span of stories that contribute to the kind of person they are — who are you to judge? You are not there to judge. You are there to be kind. Just be kind.
Kindness has 2 sides, the giver and the receiver. The giver of kindness has it’s own challenges, but the receiver of kindness actually has to be open to receiving. What if they are not open to the receipt of kindness? What then!? It doesn’t matter. As the giver of kindness, you are doing it because you want to be kind. Not because the person asked for it, or because they need it. You gave out kindness because you wanted to. But also, we need to open ourselves up to acknowledge and accept kindness no matter how big or small. Don’t fear kindness, allow people to show you the beauty in the world.
The other day I was in the grocery store with my kids. This mother and her 2 kids were following us very closely and I kept wondering what they were doing. I will admit I was wondering in a very negative way saying things in my head like “what is your problem? stop following me and my kids!” About 5 minutes into them following us, her daughter came up to my daughter and said, “I like your unicorn jacket. Where did you get it?” Then the mom chimed in and said, “Sorry, she really liked the jacket and I am trying to teach her how to speak up for herself.” Man did I feel like dirt on the floor. The mom was just trying to teach her daughter how to be kind and I was annoyed. My daughter was so happy and proud that some other little girl liked her unicorn jacket and the girls were able to have a kind conversation about the jacket. I want to be like that mom. I want to teach my daughter kindness. I want to teach her how to give kindness and how to receive it. What a world that would be…
We are in the season of thankfulness. But what if we were in the season of kindness as well. Turn your kindness into someone’s thankful. Be so kind that they are thankful for you that day, then just maybe, they will be kind enough to someone else to be that someone else’s thankful.
Create your own Kindness News Station. Be your own news reporter. What would you report for the day?
be kind.
xo,
Jessica
the honest truth 