Kindness and Courage Show Us the Way Forward

In today’s world, many people are searching for ways on how to stay strong in uncertain times, cope with anxiety, and find clarity during difficult situations. This reflection explores how kindness and courage in difficult times can guide us forward.

Given the huge upheavals of the last few weeks, many of us have been reeling, using all our resources to make sense of, and take in the implications of the unexpected and alarming events in the US and the world.  If you have already been able to accept the situation, settle, and perhaps move forward with some clarity, good on you! If you are still struggling at times, I hope some of what follows will be of use.  Consider this message a smorgasbord, and pick and choose what’s helpful for you right now. During such uncertain times, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and search for ways to cope with anxiety and fear.

What’s true is that we really don’t know what will happen in the coming few years.  We project, fear, hope, dream, but we cannot and do not know for sure.  Accepting this uncertainty about what’s next is a first step, and for me, a certain relief.  Many wise people say we are in an extended transition period where the old is dying, being replaced, and if we act wisely we have the opportunity to create a saner, kinder world.  But it will not happen overnight.  And it will not happen automatically..what we think and do matters. Learning how to deal with uncertainty in life can bring a sense of calm and acceptance.

So yes, everything is uncertain, and/but there are actions we can take, attitudes we can cultivate, to reduce that uncertainty. A computer scientist once said, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”  We’re in this together, through thick and thin, we’re interconnected, and we can help move toward a more positive and loving future.There are practical ways to stay strong mentally and emotionally even during difficult times. Connection and kindness are powerful tools for building emotional resilience.

A Smorgasbord of Reflections and Actions

Here is the smorgasbord:

1. Make a simple commitment to yourself to do the three things that some people never do and likely never will: 

    

   • Practice Kindness. The first step in counteracting Trump’s crusade of cruelty, hatred, bigotry, misogyny, ignorance and fear is for each of us, in our daily lives, to be kind. To live by the ancient code of Philo: “Be kind, for everyone you encounter is quietly carrying a great burden.” And to paraphrase something Jesse Jackson once explained to me: Ignorance and prejudice create a paralyzing and irrational, out-of-control Fear. Fear of “the Other.” Fear of the Different. Fear of the New. And Fear leads to Hate. And Hate leads to Violence. So in order not to end up with Violence, ignorance and stupidity must be the first to go.

    

   So, perform at least one act of kindness each day. You will instantly make a small piece of this world a better place. 

    

   • Listen. Especially listen to women.

    

   • Read. Books.

    

2. Join something. Anything. Being in community is a radical act. Those in power know that one of the key components of staying in power is to divide people because when the people get together, well, it never seems to turn out well for those in power. So right away, simply deciding to join with others — for any reason — is one of the purest acts of Democracy. And I’m serious, join anything. A knitting circle. A darts team. Your local HRC, ACLU, BLM, or any one of a number of social justice groups. Neighborhood clean-up. Food bank. Community theater. Over-50 hockey. Regardless of which state of grief any of us are in, nothing beats being with other humans. And by coming together — even if it’s just to make a quilt — it is during gatherings like these that somebody randomly comes up with an idea, and two other people pile on with their ideas, and before you know it, you have the beginnings of a new First People’s Cultural Center in town. 
3. Take care of yourself. We need strength to fight. It’s really that simple. And for us to win, really win, this will require 100% of our body, mind and soul. So… Drink tea. Listen to music. Go snowshoeing. Eat ice cream. Rest, on a shoulder. Randomly just start singing The Beatles’ “Let It Be” — right now. Don’t wait, just sing. “When I find myself in times of trouble…” Practice gratitude. Get a pedicure. Notice birds. Do standing push-ups against a closet door. Cross the river into Canada — with no clue as to why you’re there. (Pro Tip: Call home and announce you’ve left the country.)
4. Get some real news. Go outside the mainstream media. There’s all kinds of journalism these days — dangerous muckrakers, investigative humorists, fearless instigators, unbought and unrepentant writers — find them. Embrace it. Read it. Watch it. Listen to it: ProPublica. The Guardian. Ha’aretz. CBC nightly news “The National.”Labor Notes. John Oliver. Current Affairs. BBC NewsNight. Drop Site News. A Closer Look on Seth Meyers. The Lever. Hammer & Hope. More Perfect Union. The Katie Halper Show. Night School with Marc Lamont Hill. “Citations Needed”. Jewish Currents. Al-Jazeera English.
   Start there.  And
5. Make this pledge: I will be the first to stand for __________.Migrants who’ve come to this land. The unjustly incarcerated. The Palestinians who are being erased. The books I want my daughter to read — especially at 8 years old. The frightened Trans kid who sees political ads on TV warning the world that he is the monster.
6. Live your life by doing good for those who have the least among us.
   (I’m guessing this needs no further explanation.)
7. Breathe. Hydrate. Rinse. Repeat.
8. Forgive someone.
   Just because you know you should. Because it’s been too long. Because it’s the right thing to do. You will give this person a sense of redemption and they are likely to do the same for others. It will make you feel better about yourself. It will eliminate stress inside you from the simple act of letting go. The release itself will create its own healing. And the example you set will bring more forgiveness in the family and community around you. 
9. Laughter. Comedy. Wit. Satire. 
   It’s the best medicine, the biggest high, the most effective vehicle for you to use to communicate your ideas and to create change. People like to laugh and they’ll listen to you better if you let them enjoy being with you. Sometimes when the moment we’re in or the facts that we’re facing are just too god-awful to handle, that’s exactly when a spoonful of sugar helps this bitter pill go down. 

Why Kindness and Courage Matter in Uncertain Times

Kindness reduces stress, builds connection, and improves emotional well-being. Courage helps us face fear, take action, and move forward despite uncertainty.

Benefits of Kindness

• Reduces stress
• Builds stronger relationships
• Improves overall mindset

Benefits of Courage

• Helps face fear
• Encourages growth
• Builds inner strength