Soul Blossoming A to Z: K is for Kindness

Kindness: the quality or state of being kind

Kind:1 a: of a sympathetic or helpful nature

b: of a forbearing nature: gentle

c: arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance

(Merriam Webster dictionary

Poetry Friday and A to Z Blogging Challenge have come around again!

I love Poetry Friday!

Thank you to today’s host, Live Your Poem. Thanks, Irene! Check out her blog and also see what other poets have to say this second Friday of National Poetry month. When you combine that with the A to Z blogging challenge and the letterfor kindness–well, it’s a great day!

The kindness challenge

A few years back, I participated in a 6-week kindness blogging challenge sponsored by Niki Meadows(this is her new blog–her old one was called the richness of a simple life. The first week’s theme–being kind to yourself–I chose going to bed early, which funnily enough, I’m still struggling with. We worked our way through to the 5th week–the practice of gratitude for the kindness of others, and the 6th week and who inspires us to be kind.

 

Kindness has become an important theme for me. I used it as my focus in my early childhood classroom during my last year of teaching. I didn’t tell the children, but I did my best to live it and hold it as my ideal.

We all need love and acceptance–to be treated kindly by ourselves and others. Often, we are less kind to ourselves than we are to others. But especially in this divisive environment in which we live now, kindness becomes all the more important.

 

Kind vs. nice

This is my own distinction as far as I know. To me, a nice person by nature, being nice can mean smoothing things over, making sure the boat doesn’t rock. Again, in my own use of language, “kind” denotes something deeper. It means accepting the other (or ourselves) for who they are, recognizing that they are doing the best they can in the moment, and still standing in our own truth. I guess “nice” is more of a pushover, whereas “kind” brings compassion and strength.

 

Be kind, not nice.

That’s my advice.

Things aren’t the same

In the other’s reference frame.

Stand in your truth,

but don’t be uncouth,

Hold on to your passion

but don’t lose that compassion.

 

Be kind, not nice,

That’s my advice.

Look for the best

in others and yourself.

But forgive them all

When short they fall

Doing the same for yourself

will lead to good health.

 

Be kind, not nice

That’s my advice

Stand strong when your foes

step on your toes

But turn the other sole

and keep yourself whole.

Through kindness, you’ll win

Find it deep within

That’s all for today–I’m trying to get to bed early(ish).

Thanks for stopping by. xoxo