Musings: where is the kindness?

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you may have seen that the subject of kindness has been at the forefront of my mind this past two weeks. It started with a column that I read in a magazine (which I’m not going to go into detail about) but on reading this column I really felt quite upset. In my view the piece really encourages a side to humans that I feel we could do without; bitching.

Don’t get me wrong I understand that a good vent to friends can sometimes be a release, that we all need to talk things through. We all feel disgruntled, or angry or judgemental about peoples decisions.
But I think what started me on this track was the distinct lack of kindness that seems to have emerged with a semi-return to normal life after lock down.

We never know what people are going through, what pressures they are under, or their personal circumstance but approaching things with kindness is surely better than the opposite?

In my view (and this is simply my view) bitching about the things that annoy you about people is the same as being a bitch. I know everything can’t be sunflowers and rainbows (I am not a fool) but I feel that being supportive, nonjudgmental and, at best, kind will make for a better world.

The media is full of articles about how we need to change the way we live – recycle, reduce air travel, eat less meat and we do need to do all these things but why isn’t there more being said about kindness? To me a change in the world really needs to start with that.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.

Dr. Seuss