Okay, so for Christmas this year, a neighbor gave me a print that said "Be a little kinder." It was super-cute, and I took it to work and put it by my computer.
See, I work with kids. And sometimes kids aren't very nice to each other. Heck, sometimes adults aren't very nice to each other. We've only been in a school a couple of weeks, but I've decided to adopt this saying as my motto for the rest of the year.
Sometimes it's hard to be kind to others. They do something to us that we think we need to address. Or we feel justified in being unkind to them because they were unkind to us. Maybe we're having a bad day, have just received upsetting news, or feel like our actions are excusable.
But that saying doesn't go "Be a little kinder if it's easy." Or "Be a little kinder on days you feel good." Or "Be a little kinder as long as the other person's kind first."
It simply says "Be a little kinder."
As a teacher, at times it's hard to be patient and kind. Here's what I've done for years to remind myself to treat each child with kindness and respect. I say to myself: "This child has parents who love them."
Think of your child. If someone was unkind to them or treated them unfairly, it's probably a safe bet that you'd go all Mama Bear to protect your child. That's how we should treat everyone. As if they have a Mama Bear that loves them so much and wants to protect them from the ugly things in the world.
And in fact, YOU can be that Mama Bear by first acting with kindness.
So go do that.
I need that sign up on my computer at work and need to show it to some of my clients. It's such an important thing to remember.
ReplyDelete"That's how we should treat everyone. As if they have a Mama Bear that loves them so much and wants to protect them from the ugly things in the world."
ReplyDeleteI love this so much, Elana. This is an amazing way to look at kindness for others. Kindness without strings is a difficult concept, for kids and adults. Although it seems to me children are sometimes more capable of adopting this attitude. I hope more people (especially those who work with kids) take this on as a motto.
Being kind when you don't feel like, or maybe when you think the other person (be it child or adult) doesn't deserve it, is the hardest kind of kindness to develop, IMO. But it can also be some of the most rewarding. Great post to remind me of that today--I needed it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great saying and I love that you put it up at work to remind, not only you, but the kids, too! Be a little kinder is something we all need to live by! Best:)
ReplyDeleteI love that. I'm thinking of changing my license plates to BE NICE or BE KIND. (My 13 yr old son is horrified because he says he'd be so embarrassed). Do I be kind to him and not do it? Or spread kindness one mile at a time? :)
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