Kindness and Common Courtesy

Events over the last couple of weeks have led me to wonder what has happened to common courtesy.  Why are we so eager to blame someone else, hurt someone else, attack someone else?  When did it become easier to give someone the finger than wave?  So hard to say thank you?  To offer a simple smile?  Say hello?  Why do so many people feel so self-important, that their wants and needs are the only ones that matter?  Why are we quicker to criticize than show appreciation?

I find myself wasting time, stewing over how I've been treated, how my husband has been treated, multiple other situations I've heard about lately where people have been treated unfairly or in an unkind way.  (And I don't even watch the news!)  

At the same time, I struggle to ensure that I do not become one of those people being unjust or unkind, who forgets to smile or say thank you.  To teach my kids to be kind and compassionate, fair and conscious of other people's feelings.  

I suppose with the recent events in Las Vegas, we are all likely struggling with similar questions.  As we see the hate that grows within our country, separates us because of skin color, sexuality,  religion, and other reasons that should have become extinct long ago.  Even though we are all different, we are all people.  We share a common core.  We are all equally important, none of us more so than another, regardless of our status, income, color, religion.

Can't we just stop judging other people?  Shaming other people?  Talking negatively about other people?  Does that really make anyone feel better about themselves?  Let's start focusing more on being kind, sharing our appreciation for others, smiling, saying thank you.  As a teacher, it means the world to me when I get a card or note from a family that expresses their gratitude for what I've done, acknowledging that I've made a positive difference in their child's life.  We should each make a conscious effort to pass around more of that feeling.

An unexpected, yet very much appreciated, thank you made its way to my husband this week.  It makes such a difference to know that someone notices when you care, when you volunteer to help, instead of only noticing when you make a mistake or do something to upset them.  Those Random Acts of Kindness, even when not so random, make an individual difference that can spread exponentially from person to person.  If you don't believe it, read this children's book about Ordinary Mary and how her kindness spread from person to person, impacting so many more people than expected.  

As for me, I am going to try to do more of this and less fretting about what other people think about me.  (Because I am surely not saying I am perfect.  If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, I hope you've adequately received this message.  I am anything but.  However, I am trying to be better every day.)  Reed and I are going to try a new church tomorrow, in a search for a home church where we belong.  Perhaps if we all join together in spreading kindness, we can try to overpower the hate that seems to be catching like wildfire.  In this spirit, I'll end with one of my favorite quotes: