Kindness

Kindness is another of those abstract nouns with a circular definition. It means to act with benevolence. What does benevolence mean? An act of kindness. It also means a desire to do good to others, but good is a whole bunch of vague and abstract.

This morning I read that yesterday, April 12th, was declared “One Kind Act a Day” Day in Utah. Complicated in itself, right? If the goal is to do one kind thing every day, how can you have one day for it, but that’s a question for the governor of Utah. The examples given as kind acts were: to pay for the dinner of the people at the table next to you in a restaurant, or to buy the coffee of the person behind you in line, but is that actually kindness? Those people are already at a restaurant, or in a coffee shop, so they have the means and intention to pay their own way. By paying for them, you haven’t found a need and fulfilled it. You haven’t done something that lessened their burden (much).

When I think of kindness, I think of taking the time to observe, pay attention, and listen, truly listen to what someone needs, then give what you can to ameliorate that need if within your means and ability. Listening in itself may be the biggest kindness.

With that in mind, I continued the approach I started yesterday, putting light in the mirrorworld. I added three more lights: two overhead clip lights, and a multi LED hanging light.

The Prompts

NaPoWriMo

Today’s prompt is to write a poem that joyfully states “Everything is going to be amazing.”

Poem A Day

Today’s prompt is a title made from How to (blank).

The Poem

How to Show Kindness

When intending to act with kindness
the ego may get in the way
slay the impulse to project
your moving picture is singular
only a ghostly image
when applied to others
patient observation is going to be stupendous

When one kind act is needed a day
shatter every stifling fear
kindness takes courage
like the fragile mouse
grab the thorn and tug
yank it from the giant paw
expecting the lion’s roar
sympathy is going to be astonishing

a kind word soothes
the savage beast
and tastes sweeter
than a barbed tongue

When kindness is key
tear through apathy to care
lend a keen ear
with an open heart
aware like soft slant light
revealing specks of dust
as floating glitter
tenderness is going to be extraordinary