If your curiosity, fear or imagination has been engaged, or you’re overwhelmed by them, I suggest you ask the person directly, swiftly and kindly. If you want to know something, don’t guess or assume, ask with kindness.
I wouldn’t beat around the bush, prevaricate or go through other people or channels. Just call, text, FaceTime and see if you can get the answer you were looking for. It’s often much easier, quicker, effective and appreciated.
While on a bus today, a young man, maybe 19, wanted to get on, but either had no money or his card wasn’t working.
I have a son about his age and I’ve been without cash at times, so I could feel his frustration. So I walked to the front of the bus to pay for him; pay it forward. The driver said we were not travelling together so I couldn’t pay for him.
I thought it was a very strange rule. The young man thanked me for the attempt and got off the bus.
What a bizarre idea that I couldn’t help a young man in a challenging moment. What happened to kindness?!
It doesn’t take much to be kind: a smile, a warm hand, patience and peace in your heart.
It costs nothing and can change the world.
Keep kindness in your top thought spot every day.
Isn’t it incredible that someone you’ve never met can be unbelievably kind with no benefit to themselves. Perhaps the benefit they receive is knowing they are a good person and live the values that are important to them.
These kind interactions happen billions of times each day, from opening doors and letting others go first, to helping people who have lost a child, their keys or their balance.
Cherish these moments. It’s what helps to bind people together in society.
Have you ever pushed things a little too far? Someone isn’t having their best moment and you antagonise them just a little? Well, ‘Don’t poke the bear’, is what we say in our house.
Sometimes the extra poke is in jest. Occasionally it works too. But often you simply end up antagonising the person further.
How nice it would be if people learned to pull back, relax and chill. If they could give the other person some breathing room and a little head space. Most of us don’t enjoy having a bad moment. Certainly most don’t want it made worse.
We have the opportunity to make things better. We can create a positive butterfly effect rather than a negative one. With that power, why wouldn’t you? With great power comes great responsibility, as they say. Please use it wisely.
Remember this blog the next time things are going a bit wrong for someone. Try not to push them further to the brink. Give them some space. Or have the clear intent to honestly try to make their situation better.
Whatever you do, try not to make it worse for the person. Not even in a jokey or fun way. What might seem fun or funny to you, may not seem like it to them.
Be kind. Don’t poke the bear.
