Kindness, Please....

"In the end, only kindness matters..." ~Hands(Jewel)

I've always loved that line from Jewel's song. For me it encompasses all that is needed to make our lives better. Really.

Sounds simplistic I know. But how hard is it to imagine how things would be better if we exercised a little kindness in our everyday dealings? Would the irate driver have hit the illegal parker if he had decided to be a little kinder? Wouldn't they both have avoided a lot of wasted energy that way? Not to mention time, and probably money, too. And the official who steals from his/her people? Wouldn't it benefit more if he decided to look for kindness in his heart and realize that the world does not revolve only around his needs, that there may be others who will truly benefit from the money he/she stole? Is that too hard to imagine, or understand?

The truth is, it will always be easier to give in to a more negative reaction. Someone hits you, you hit back, without thinking. That is our nature. Kindness takes one more second. It asks for one more deep breath before you act. It takes practice and self-control. Still, I believe that all it takes is one decisive step in the right direction. One conscious thought to take deep breath and decide on kindness is already one big step.

The world has lost sight of this. That includes me, of course. These days, I try to be a little bit more conscious in taking that extra breath. Who knows, one day, it might come naturally. For me, and for others, too.

A world ruled by kindness, now wouldn't that be nice?