kindness

When did we become so callous as humans. What happened to just plain civility? Did we ever actually have any? People, other humans, have been persecuted and picked on for as long as there have been humans.  Does that mean that, as humans, we are incapable of loving every other human? Why do we judge others? Why do we forego common courtesy for our fellow humans for the sake of our own comfort?  My daughter tried telling me that in Germany, people are kinder and more considerate. And then it occurred to her that they may not be, only that she may not understand what they are saying to her. I think airlines should do away with reclining seats. The comfort of one person directly causes the discomfort of another. To what end?



Getting the opportunity to travel to other countries, see other cultures, interact on others 'turfs' for the first time in my lifetime really opened my eyes to the kind of person I want to be...or perhaps more accurately,  the kind I DON'T want to be. I'm generally and genuinely happy being me. But I haven't conquered envy. Even as I write this, I'm envying the man in front of me who has so little regard for my leg room as to be able to lay his seat back mostly in my lap. I envy and pity his callousness. I will not put mine back...I want to think I'm a tad more considerate.



I hope I can hold onto this feeling of wanting to be more kind. More patient. A better person  and nicer to all. And this hasn't just been a result of the plane ride. I noticed in my travels some of the small things we take for granted. Giving someone a random smile, a pleasant greeting, using please and thank you regularly, etc. Take the time any given day to notice if you do these things. Do you treat foreigners like complete idiots because they don't speak the same language? Random acts of kindness shouldn't have to be random and shouldn't need to be celebrated. Kindness should be our norm.