Observing Kindness Around You–Kindness Challenge, Week 2

 

This is week 2 of the kindness challenge.  This week’s challenge was to notice the kindness around you.  I focused on the kindness of my friends and family.  And believe me, I am surrounded by a lot of kindness.
Like this mayapple flower I saw on a walk in the woods yesterday, sometimes you have to look for the kindness.  Sometimes, of course, it’s easy to spot.  Kindness shows up in many different ways besides just kind words, although I did hear many of those this week.
One way kindness looks is when my Spanish teacher, Claudia, corrects my pronunciation (especially “d” which I sometimes pronounce correctly, really!), and trust me, she does it often.  I know that she does this because she cares about my learning and she knows I can do it.  She never gets annoyed with me (or if she does, she keeps it to herself) but she keeps at it.  I’m sure she lets a few things slip by, as well, which is also a kindness, because sometimes it’s enough.

I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers–Blanche from “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

We depend on each other in many different ways.  While I, like Blanche, often rely on he kindness of strangers, I more often rely on the kindness of those closest to me.  This week, I called my daughters to ask their opinions as to which of my stories I should use for the class I’m taking on Picture books from the Children’s Book Academy.  Their kindness and honesty touched me.  They are very supportive of me and I am very grateful.
I am also grateful for my Mom’s worrying about me.  It’s another form of kindness.  I’m supposed to have some dental work done, which was just rescheduled for the third time for various reasons (not mine).  She texted me numerous times to express her concern for me.  I am so blessed to have parents who care so much and take the time to express it.
I visited one of the Early Childhood classes at the Chicago Waldorf School this week–I got to go twice.  First of all, it was such a joy to see my colleagues who I have barely seen this year.  But observing the kindness they show to the children and each other (and me, too) is inspiring.
I am blessed to be the recipient and observer of so much kindness in my life.  I am thankful to Niki and the kindness challenge for reminding me.
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great week.
Be kind–to yourself and others!