DAILY SLICES OF LIFE - Living without Kindness

“A single drop of water falling into the sea will create a ripple 

that will be felt all over the world.”

     This very interesting, creative, and truthful observation by an Unknown Author serves to effectively remind us of the wonderful and uniquely powerful effect that an act of kindness can have on others, even far away from its original location. Like the single drop of water falling into the sea, a kind thought, word or deed, well placed, can deliver a response far beyond its intended focus, and leave an impact that will continue well beyond the original source.

         A true act of Kindness, quite unlike many of the other human emotions, must be given unconditionally, without any underlying motive attached, and with no expectation of reward. Charles Darwin, the great English anthropologist and author of the definitive, Origin of the Species, insisted that kindness is an instinctual behavior in man that is always accompanied by genuine concern and consideration for others, and associated with feelings of well-being and satisfaction. It is, without doubt, the single most important key to ensuring a life of fulfillment, sustained genuine and meaningful relationships, and a future filled with optimism. It is however, effective only in the presence of love, the main driving force, which always guarantees truthful implementation, and it will certainly die in any milieu dominated by greed, selfishness and anger.

         The language of kindness is universal, readily understood and appreciated by all living beings. When executed on a regular basis, such behavior induces lasting effects on the person’s well-being, his emotions and his inter-personal commitments. Such responses are so deeply embedded in the psyche that even a single act of kindness can induce lasting positive effects on the person, and result in stimulating a desire for continued kindness in all the aspects of living. Kindness can be exhibited using every form of sensory expression, and is readily identified and appreciated by others by the satisfying effects it produces. It is, without doubt, the most reliable image of love, and with trust, it forms a solid underpinning for any good relationship. Its value to human existence has long been understood, and it is a most important requisite of all known religions, irrespective of underlying doctrine or beliefs, where all members are taught and encouraged to express kindness to all others.

         The popular connotation that kindness is associated only with the weak and the naïve and therefore it should be discouraged, is a myth and blatantly false. In fact, an act of true kindness is a skill that requires courage and strength to implement successfully against the prevailing environment of greed, selfishness and individual gain that presently dominate modern societies. It is not a virtue that can be adopted or showcased only in specific situations or under selected conditions, but rather, to be truly effective, it must function as an integral component of the individual’s belief and behavior make-up, and must be expressed in everything they do. Anything else is merely a sham!

Unfortunately, by their very nature, acts of kindness can be, and are very often exploited by others for their own gain. In fact, people generally, have lost the ability to treat each other with the kindness and respect due to them, and this is clearly evident in all the daily interactions.  The once routine attitudes of respect and care for people and for the environment are being replaced by fear, suspicion and the questioning of everything. So that an act of kindness even when freely offered, is often viewed with skepticism and suspicion as an ulterior motive, rather than accepted in good faith. The rising incidences of social unrests, racial and religious conflicts, and open hate crimes point clearly and definitively to the loss of this virtue of kindness among the peoples of the world. It should come as no surprise therefore that the whole world is in turmoil, with no solution in sight.

There is urgent need for the world to recognize that this loss of a sense of kindness that seems to be so prevalent will only confuse and compound the raging distrust and conflicts that presently engulf the societies. This has made it difficult, almost impossible, for people to feel, far less offer, goodwill and help to others in need, and has served only to underline and reinforce fear and distrust. This indeed has become a major human failing where we are conditioned to be quick to judge that we are victimized or hurt, and react with antagonism and revenge. It is precisely because of this progressive deterioration in our attitudes that we find it hard to feel goodwill to others, to understand their needs, and to offer help. We are even choosing our leaders who are determined to champion this attitude.

The answer lies not in prolonging the situation by judging right from wrong, or to take sides for, or against anything, but rather to find and hold on to that fundamental thread of kindness that binds us together as human beings, and bridges the many divides of sex, race, religion, politics and nationality. This demands a concerted effort by all, and it must begin with the fundamental commitment to first, do no harm to others, followed by the expression to all the people of genuine kindness. In this respect, we seem to have completely forgotten those immortal words of wisdom by Mahatma Gandhi, the great Indian statesman, which spoke directly to the real power of kindness:

“The simplest acts of kindness are far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”

 

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