Kindness is a True Friend

10 years ago, while attending the Sun Valley Writers conference I was struck by a phrase from Pico Iyer, “hatred is a failure of our imagination.” As a child who had subscribed to hatred in my early life as a coping mechanism for managing feelings of being overwhelmed or dominated by those around me, I never imagined the impact of hatred beyond the immediate sense of strength and power it provided me in warding off threats from others.

However, as time went on the long-term consequences of hatred became known. I found myself living in a self-imposed prison cell, internally contracted, perpetually unhappy, and isolated from caring relationships. Looking back, it was good to hit rock bottom and be forced to imagine a different way. Kindness…

As an adult whenever I experience harm or injustice from another, I find it useful to imagine what are the consequences of responding with hatred? Can there be anything other than a perpetuation of harm for myself and others?

Invariably, through pondering these questions my imagination succeeds…kindness is the way!

Regardless of the circumstance, kindness is a true friend. They guide us gently toward a radiance of goodwill, passing through walls of separation and revealing the potential for healing, growth, and forgiveness.

This month, join us in being kind, even if it is hard. And, if you are still unsure, imagine the alternative…

In kindness,

Ryan