The Power of Kindness
It’s strange isn’t it how the hashtag #bekind took off? A quick look on Twitter just shows how many people are happy to jump on this hashtag bandwagon whereas their tweets would demonstrate anything but kindness. In effect, for many, it just means — I’ll stop putting out aggressive tweets, well for a bit anyway but I’ve written #bekind a few times so actually aren’t I nice?
I’ve met some really kind people in my life and I can say that without exception, none of them have ever written #bekind on a social media platform. The difference with them is that they show kindness through actions rather than just words.
The kindest person I have ever met is my friend Brian. He has always been there for me — ‘just helping out’ as he’d like to think of it. He has helped us out financially when we’ve struggled — no questions asked. Many a time, a loan turned in to a gift. He’s helped me out with advice when I started to work for myself — just give it a go. 16 years later, I’m still giving it a go and have been in a position where I don’t need a loan anymore but I knew that if ever I did, he would be there. I have not ever lost appreciation of how lucky that makes us as a family and what a difference it makes.
Kind people know how to say sorry. I’ve had very few arguments with him over the years but whenever he’s done something that has upset me (which has never ever been intentional), he’s never hesitated to say sorry as he genuinely cares about others.
He’ll talk to anyone and he will help anyone. Fixing here and there so that things are in place for the benefit of everyone. He knows how to share.
My wife adores her father, my children adore their grandfather and I adore my father in law, my friend Brian. Hero is an overused word in my opinion but he is my hero. There is nothing about this man that I don’t respect and strive towards as being what a good person should be.
This world hasn’t got the privilege of having this man for much longer but through his kindness, he’s made the world a better place for many. That’s the power of actually being kind.
