Greetings Dragon Nation!

Well, fall is definitely here! We have made it through Fall Festival, Spirit Week, and a fabulous Homecoming Dance! I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of it and I hope that you did too.

For this edition, I would like to focus my comments on a simple concept that is often lost in all the static that surrounds us. For this edition, I want to reflect a bit on the concept of kindness. 

We see “Be Kind” signs all over Richmond, in fact I have one of the originals in my office. It was given to me by a friend of the artist when I began my cancer treatments several years ago. It is a nice reminder to me that no matter how my day is going, there is always room to be kind to others, but what do “kind” and “kindness” actually mean?

There are several definitions of the word “kind” that can be found in dictionaries. I personally like “given to or made with heedful appreciation of the needs and happiness of others” from the Merriam-Webster website. By extension, kindness is the act of being kind. 

Kindness is an intentional act. While we may do kind things by habit or coincidentally, the act of being kind is something that requires thought.  I have tried to make kindness a part of my daily routine. It can be as simple and visible as smiling and saying good morning to everyone I see at the start of the day, or it can be a passive act such as listening to a person and trying to empathize with them rather than acting judgmental. It can mean being patient with your own needs while someone else is struggling, such as being in a line behind someone that doesn’t have it all together. Sometimes, it can be as simple as a smile. 

Here is the thing: we can never know what battles others are fighting. We all have the face that we show to our friends, our families, and the general world, but often we are struggling inside with issues that we aren’t ready to share. Some of us may be hanging by a thread. A simple act of kindness from a friend or stranger can make all the difference in helping someone make it through the day. Conversely, a thoughtless act can be what sends us over the edge into a dark place. We have all been there.

Unfortunately, kindness has been seen by some as a weakness. At the risk of offending someone, these people are miserable. Kindness is an act of strength. Kindness means giving of yourself to the betterment of another. A simple act of kindness can cause a ripple effect that goes way beyond the moment. There was an old commercial when I was growing up that said something to the effect of “A person never stands so tall as when they stoop to help another.” Take that concept to heart. Go and Be Kind!