Today, there is an abundance of hate, turmoil and fear overtaking our culture. As a mother, I worry for my children, just like all of you do for your child. While I am not willing to discuss my personal views on politics or the various topics plaguing our society today, I would like to express a desire.
My desire is simple. I wish for all of us to learn to practice and inspire love and kindness. In my heart, I feel we’ve lost our way to show love of each other that is imperative to our society. I worry that our children will no longer look at their peers or their elders the way we did and express respect for each other, their unique ideas and perspectives, and appreciation for their differences and contributions.
If we each try to incorporate practicing kindness and love in our day-day, it can become a trend that infiltrates our society with a positive impact. I’m not an expert, and I can’t say exactly what happened along the way – maybe it’s the increasing speed of technology that has become a significant part of our lives, maybe from environmental changes, maybe from adjustments in how we parent – i just don’t know and there are certainly a wide variety of theories and thoughts on this I’ve read from many others.
Regardless of what the driver is that has brought us here, I still believe deep down, making the change to set the example and demonstrate this simple behavior in our own actions will help to inspire a change. Stop to hold the door for the person behind you. Smile as you pass others on the street. Get off the bench and play with your child when you go to the park. Take a walk with your family after dinner. Thank the cashier for their help and wish them a nice day. Put your phone away and spend time in the evenings talking with your child and spouse about their day.
To make sure I clarify, I don’t mean for you to never allow time for yourself or that you should not view yourself as important – because you are. But understanding and demonstrating importance for not only yourself but others as well is where love and respect can be fostered. And hopefully, bring forward a positive change in how we interact with each other, inspire decisions that account for the well being of others and create strong bonds within our society.
Be the inspiration. Set the example. Eliminate the ‘what’s in it for me’ mentality from your day and instead change that to ‘what can I do to help others’ as an alternative. Even if for some reason others choose not to follow your lead, at the end of the day you will feel happier and better about your choices by showcasing kindness and love in your own life.
Lisa R. Crowe 