Make America Kind Again.
As I browsed through my Facebook account, I noticed many . . . . many of my online friends posting their wishes for America to be kind again.
So I cruised around the internet and found some things about kindness that I will share here.
- Kindness is a choice. It requires a conscious decision to do something positive.
- Research shows that being kind to others can actually make us genuinely happy in a number of different ways. We know that deciding to be generous or cooperating with othersactivates an area of the brain called the striatum. Interestingly, this area responds to things we find rewarding . . . The feel-good emotion from helping has been termed “warm glow” and the activity we see in the striatum is the likely biological basis of that feeling( theconversation.com) Which is to say, there is nothing rewarding about creating derision and divisiveness. There is nothing rewarding about oppression and hatred. Why? Because the person creating those things is always looking over his/her shoulder–because that’s what creating enemies does.
- We ALL live downstream. Everything we do comes back to us–some call it Kharma. Whatever you call it, allow me to provide some examples.
- Pollution. All that we discard in an irresponsible way will get back to us. We are currently battling unclean air and water, animal extinction, disease, compromised food supply, and on and on. The effects are not like painting a house, where the result are seen immediately. Pollution travels slowly down the stream of consequence, and we, as the human race, will suffer. We already are. So kindness here is the simple, responsible, KIND act of disposing of trash and recyclables properly.
- Kindness can be difficult. Whoever said that the best way to get things done is to create havoc and division was wrong. We cling to our political beliefs in ways that promote rudeness and animosity. We’ve all heard the old adage, “never discuss religion or politics”. And now, more than ever, we find ourselves in a political climate that is breeding rudeness and animosity. People seem to be thriving on it. What is the reward? More anger. More division. Fewer REAL benefits. Does animosity, anger, and division activate the striatum? Don’t think so. I ever got a warm and fuzzy feeling from making people angry or sad.
This could go on and on–an unfortunately this conversation IS going on right now. In America. The question we have to ask ourselves is this: In making America great again, do we want to leave the road to greatness unnavigable and covered with the “bodies” of selfish, self-centered accusatory 5th grade behavior, or do we want to try to work together, find out what will benefit everyone and not just a select few? Do we want our motivations to be inspired by kindness and goodwill, or by blind vengeance and animosity?
Kindness is a choice. It requires a conscious decision to do something positive. The word ‘Great’ would imply that.
