Be kind, be calm, be safe… These are the words with which the BC health officer ends every update with.  Dr. Bonnie Henry (written up in the New York Times : The Top Doctor Who Aced the Coronavirus Test), is indeed a gem, and we are blessed to have her leading the way.  

Be kind, be calm, be safe.  And, if I may use a knock off phrase from the greatest book, The Greatest of these is “Be Kind”.  Kindness is actually kinda close to the original greatest — kindness and love are indeed closely linked for me, and both are game changers, life altering, make all the difference… read on to see what I mean.

“Be kind” has come into my world from a number of different perspectives.  We actually have this posted on out bathroom mirror: “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”  Rather compelling, I find.  If you don’t already know, you might not guess that this was said by none other than Henry James .  

Being kind is deeply relevant to us today — whether it is being kind to ourselves, kind to those we are living with, kind to those who are struggling much more than many of us with the fallout and consequences of this ongoing pandemic… 

This week in her Sunday Paper, Maria Shriver also focusses strongly on those very same words: Be Kind. She begins with the quote: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”  -Unknown. It’s a lovely essay and I link you to it here. 

I had kind of a rough day today…I fell over an open drawer and gashed my legs yet again (still have some other wounds from my bike pedal); I procrastinated and didn’t get done what I had intended to; I am feeling aches and pains that I wish weren’t there; I was critical, wishing things were different, grumpy about all manner of things. … and then on top of all that, I found that I was being hard on myself!   🙁

Be kind be kind be kine

It certainly makes difference when I turn my attention, not only to how incredibly lucky I am, and how smooth and easy my life is…. but then remember actually to be kind…  When I feel the kindness and compassion and goodwill toward myself, and then also toward people who really have something to be upset and concerned and scared about, my world transforms.  It is like day and night.

If you google “effects of being kind”, you find a long list of benefits and studies from reputable sources.  Here is just one: Kindness Health Facts.  So my parting words to you and to me here today, and every day are: Be Kind. Also in this crazy and wild times, may you also be calm and be safe.

Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity.  BECOMING is an invitation for self-reflection, and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, andgrowth.  Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume.  Follow me on Twitter, let’s be friends on Facebook.  🙂

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