Some days are nothing but a flutter of unconscious thoughts, ideas, and movements in any given direction. I ponder the days of kindness and thoughtful revelry that seem long gone by. Or is that I am so far removed from levels of kindness that I, myself, have forgotten the significance of kindness in my life.

I am set to challenge my new year focus on levels of kindness. What and where that begins is always from within, right? Does that mean others too may be thoughtlessly going through a day without thinking about kindness. I am not just talking kindness to others but kindness to ourselves. We are not always given the choice of receiving it from others, so why would we deny ourselves the same level of kindness. If we start with ourselves we might find that such mindful acts we give ourselves first, allows us to give a more deeper and far more impactful kindness to others.

When I speak of levels of kindness, I mean actual levels of kindness. Yes, it could mean the depths of kindness from our heart and soul, but it can also mean the level of kindness that allows us to give in increments we are comfortable with but that are also allowing others to receive in a simple way. For example, a friend who was in town was absolutely troubled about something, and since I am not one for getting involved. I simply told her a story from my experience, that she could relate to specifically for what she was experiencing. I chose to be kind and not reactive or aggressive because she was clearly struggling with what to do. Sounds like something a friend just does – but I don’t think it is. I have had friends not say anything or worse, tell me I need professional help. The level of kindness I believe I am writing about it, truly taking the moment to be conscious and mindful while still be present without becoming engulfed or involved. Kindness for me at that moment was allowing her, as an adult with her own brain, smarts, and heart, to hear me explain how something worked differently for me in a similar situation. I didn’t try to say it was the same, I didn’t compare it , or even try to explain why I believed I was right for my choice. I simply responded, you know what I did was …xyz. She looked at me for a minute – like it was the nicest thing I had ever done.

Now I know this sounds sappy, dramatic, or even dorky. However, as mature woman, I think we forget that kindness does come in so many different ways, seeing what is needed means we need to stop and understand how putting kindness in front of our views or ideas – truly changes the message and the receiving of the words or actions. So my pledge for the upcoming year is to do just that…put kindness in all things, actions, and responses. No matter what. Sound easy? Sounds hard – doesn’t it? I don’t know that I have spent that much energy – ever – putting so much behind a thoughtful action. Thoughtfully – methodologically and conscientiously being kind – in words, in thoughts, in actions, and reactions.

If I start a kindness pledge and it moves just a few circles outside of the center, I believe it works. If it becomes a snowball of kindness – well then it truly makes things better all over the place. Thank you for reading and thank you for understanding that sometimes, its writing down the words to make it an action, and changing people, views, and perspectives, one kind act at a time!