Kindness: Kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistance, or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return. (Wikipedia)
Earlier this week I was at my volunteer assignment in the NICU of our local hospital. I am a baby cuddler there and so enjoy time spent with these precious little nuggets. I love snuggling, rocking, singing and reading to these little ones. I get as much out of the interaction as the babies do!
When the ward is full there is plenty to do, but when numbers are low you often walk the halls waiting to be hailed into a room. One of the ladies is more sensitive to feeling rejected when not needed. She was in a downer mood when the receptionist snapped at her for mentioning an issue (which I am sure the receptionist had been told numerous times.) The volunteer reacted in a stream of tears and she left her shift immediately.
So, I have been thinking about the situation. My initial reaction is the reception could learn some better ways to respond. But, I remember when I worked at a junior high school. I kept the attendance records and every hour I would have a new batch of students “help” me in the office and gather attendance sheets from every class. This was the most frustrating job for my personality because of the constant interruptions. I like to put my head down and accomplish a task. It made me think twice about the receptionist – she has to deal with a new set volunteers every two hours – all while handling her responsibilities. Hmm, sounds familiar! It helped me recognize that she may be in the same situation I was in and in need of some compassion herself.
I have learned that a little bit of kindness goes a long way. None of us knows what is going on with another. What frustrations, health issues, stressors, and loss they may be dealing with. We only see what the person chooses to let us see. The grumpy person needs an extra bit of kindness, but the happy person needs it just as much, as they could be dying inside. We can all work on stopping the initial judgement of others, and instead simply respond in kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness.
I like to use compliments as a way to show kindness. If someone’s hair, outfit or shoes catch your eye, say something about it. Compliment a stranger. You never know what kind of day they are having, but most likely you just made it better.
Show compassion to the elderly person blocking the aisle at the grocery store. This is probably their only outing of the week and a chance to interact with others. I remember my mom in her later years would spend time at a local drugstore. It was her way to get out of the house and be around people, to feel their energy. I can only hope that she had positive interactions with others during those outings.
We aren’t going to single handedly change the world, but each person showing kindness can create a ripple of good. Shine that beautiful smile of yours to a stranger.
You never know when YOU will be the recipient of that kindness wave!
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