Kindness

Written by: Collette Cottingham; Creatively Hip

 

I saw the discussion topic for this week and I shut down. Any compliment I have ever received seemed to disappear with a poof. Yet, I could list all the negative comments easily.

Those negative words never disappear. I only have myself to blame for holding on to them. Why is the negative stuff easier to believe?

I remember in high school a teacher gave us a small box. Our job was to decorate the box with our own unique style. I looked around the room and saw many different personalities. Each box was truly unique, some people even cared more about their box than others.

Our next task was to write one word for each person in the class. It was an anonymous word of positivity.

The box was to be used for rough days when you needed a reminder of how wonderful you are. I remember opening my box. The words I received were: nice, sweet, caring and kind.

Thirty years later and I am still that person. Kindness is a virtue of mine. I get excited over any little accomplishment you achieve. I can’t help it. I want everyone to be happy and feel the kindness around them.

On rough days I need to remember the words in my box. Those positive words need to be my focus instead of negativity or hurt.

I set daily goals for myself. One word of positivity to focus on each day. Today I went into the past and pulled out a word from my box…kindness. I will be kind and I will look for kindness.

I must remember that this word extends to me as well. I have to be kind to myself.

I know most people are good. I see it every day. Sometimes you will catch a good person in a bad moment. It happens to all of us. I try my best to let them know I care and that there is kindness in the world.

I have become the person I want to be. I am kind and caring. I am the type of person the world needs.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless”—Mother Teresa