The Kindness of Promptly Responding

"Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."
~ Theodore Isaac Rubin

My son has an amazing teacher at his new school.  She is an incredibly patient and surprisingly wise young woman.  She has helped my son with the transition to a new school and I have seen her manage her classroom expertly -- so much so that I once thought the children were not in the classroom because they were so well behaved.  With this teacher's guidance, my son has soared.  He has progressed beautifully and is even enjoying a subject that he previously did not like.  Bottom line:  She is a terrific teacher.  And as any parent who has dealt with anything less knows, that is truly a blessing.

This teacher is also very kind to the parents, and treats us with respect and compassion.  One of the things that impresses me about her is her responsiveness.  Whenever I e-mail her, she replies very quickly, which is really helpful.  Whether it is a classroom issue or a scheduling question, her timely responses make my life easier.  And that is another blessing for a sometimes crazed working mom!

Squeezing in a Pretty Big Kindness

"To give somebody your time is the biggest gift you can give."
~ Franka Potente

I recently ran into a friend of mine who was trying to make it to the bank before it closed.  A working mother of four, she helps a relative of her husband with the payment of bills.  This kindness entails going to the bank every week and withdrawing money for various payments, and then going to visit the  elderly relative, and leaving money to purchase groceries and pay caretakers.  I have always thought of this friend as incredibly generous, thoughtful and kind, so I am not surprised, but I am still in awe of all that she manages and the kindnesses that she still finds a way to do.

Kindness in Line

"Smile at a stranger.  See what happens."
~ Patti LuPone

A woman I know ran to a restaurant restroom only to find that there was just one stall and that another woman was waiting.  "You can go before me," the woman waiting said.  "How did you know?" the other woman asked.  "I could see it in your face," the woman replied.  Ah, the kindness of strangers!

Coaching with Kindness

"In the end, it's about teaching, and what I always loved about coaching was the practices.  Not the games, not the tournaments, not the alumni stuff.  But teaching the players during practice was what coaching was all about to me."
~ John Wooden

My children have a very kind tennis instructor.  A young man, he is patient and friendly, in addition to being a good coach.  But what impresses me the most is how he tries to motivate each child in a way that makes sense for each one.  He engages the children in various games that play to their different abilities and offers encouragement along with instruction.  I am glad that my children are learning a game that they can play their whole lives, but I am happier that they also are learning about coaching with kindness.

The Kindness of Traveling Lightly

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."
~ Leonardo da Vinci

It occurred to me this morning how amazing it would be if we could "travel light" -- not in the way that we think of when going on a plane trip and hoping not to check in baggage.  Instead, what if we could put down the anger, the negative feelings about people, experiences and the past, and just move forward?  I am not saying that we should forget -- the lessons of the past should definitely inform our decisions and actions going forward.  But what if we took those lessons and experiences as information and nothing more?  What if we could let go of the negative emotions that accompany them?  I don't think it's an accident that this occurred to me in the middle of yoga exercises as I tried mightily to stay in the present moment, to just breathe...  The mere thought of being able to do this made me smile, and I felt both a little lighter and even a bit more free.

My hope is that we can all travel a little more lightly this year.  I think that would be a kindness for ourselves as well as for those who accompany us on the journey.

Holiday Kindness on the Phone

"Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store."
~ Dr. Seuss

Recently, I tried to send a gift from an online vendor, but I was having trouble placing the order via the website.  I called a phone number on the website, but no one answered.  Next, I tried a number for one of the vendor's stores and managed to get someone on the phone.  I shared that I was having trouble ordering online, but the shop employee said that the store was separate from the online sales.  I told her that I had tried calling the online number and I asked if she could possibly help me.  The woman turned out to be incredibly helpful.  She figured out what was the most cost-efficient way for me to order and then took the details for my order.  She gave me her name and told me to call if I needed anything else.  I was grateful for the kindness, especially given how hectic the holidays can be for those in stores.

Of Kindness and New Year's Resolutions

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man."

~ Benjamin Franklin

After years (ok, decades) of making New Year's resolutions, I decided this year to try something different.  I identified several areas that I wanted to focus on in my life and I will try to aim for those every day.  Of course, one of them is kindness -- toward others and myself.

I don't think that we need to go crazy making resolutions for the new year, but at the very least, new years -- like birthdays (especially those milestone ones) -- serve as moments of reflection.  Where am I and where do I want to go?  If we don't take stock, we can end up living by default.

What are you going to focus on this year?