A Buddhist monk was invited to speak to a high school Senior elective class. As he entered the room, he remained silent. This made everyone more attentive. He walked to the chalk board and wrote, “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wanted to help mom do the dishes.” They all laughed.
He then went on to say:
“Statistically, it is highly unlikely that any of you will ever have the opportunity to run into a burning orphanage and rescue an infant. But, in the smallest gesture of kindness – a warm smile, holding the door for the person behind you, shoveling the driveway of the elderly person next door – you have committed an act of immeasurable profundity, because to each of us, our life is our universe.”
Kindness is universal. It requires no special language. It is not critical or self-seeking. It requires no experience nor college degree. It only requires a willingness to make the world a better place for someone else.
Kindness can be the giving of a gift or service. Yet it can also be in not reacting negatively to someone else’s behavior, for example, the way they are driving. Unless you have walked in someone else’s shoes, which you haven’t, let’s cut them some slack. You’ll feel all the better for it.
Plan to show someone an act of kindness every day for the next week. And for goodness sake, help mom with the dishes.