I have lately been pondering the idea of kindness. It was Barbara Kingsolver who said, "What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness." When as a society did we shift from acts of kindness to acts of kindness to gain something in return? I almost feel that kind acts, that are sincere, are going extinct.
I am exhausted of hearing people's sarcastic or cutting remarks towards me or others. When I was a senior in high school one of my favorite teachers told me, "Sarcasm puts people on the defense. Any human being will shut down when sarcasm is thrown at them." For one of the first times in my life I saw this in my life. I had a sarcastic comment directed at me and I recognized myself shutting down. I instantly went quiet and chose to end all conversation. "To belittle, you have to be little." --Khalil Gibran.
I just wish there weren't people that shot down others dreams. I wish there were people who chose kindness before cruelty. I wish there were people who chose curiosity before judgement and love before hatred. "People shouldn't have to earn kindness. They should have to earn cruelty." --Maggie Stiefvater
My only new years resolution for 2012 is "to be someone who gives a damn." Define that as you wish but for me, I know being kind and seeing the humanity in others is part of that definition.
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