The rise of kindness

This is part two of a two-part post. Read part one: The Rise of Cruelty

In my previous post, I wrote about the rise of cruelty. But cruelty isn't the whole story.

As cruelty rises, so does its counterpart: kindness.

A small gesture can change your life or uplift your day. I have been reminded of kindness lately, being on the receiving end. Kind people make you feel special.

Last year, I was traveling with my family, and we were with kind friends. This was a special time, and a year later, my son still recalls those moments because they made a deep and durable impression.

As I have been on the receiving end of unnecessary cruelty, I am also, at the same time, on the receiving end of kindness. I had people reaching out, helping in their own way, offering time, resources, and anything they had just to help.

I met with an entrepreneur recently who was shafted in business—big numbers—and who shared that, at times, he doesn't believe in humanity. I understand. We tend to focus on the negative. And the financial hardship and stress don't help. After a short conversation, we discovered that he, too, has been on the receiving end of kindness: friends around him, business partners who helped him.

Kindness is a way of being.

It's not just a one-time act. It's a practice, a choice we make again and again. We need to understand the other being and wish them happiness. Then, act on it in a way that empowers them. That's what kindness does.

It's a choice, just as cruelty is. A choice to help others, empower them, help them heal.

What does kindness look like in practice?

Sometimes it's giving money to the homeless person near the supermarket. But more than that, it's having conversations with him, making him feel like he belongs, reminding him he's a human like any other. Asking about his dreams. Just having a chat and making sure to look him in the eyes each time you cross paths, acknowledging him. Homeless people can feel excluded from society. A look, a conversation, a moment of recognition can change that.

Sometimes it's practicing specific prayers for people, so they don't feel alone when bad news happens.

Sometimes it's caring for four stray cats who were feral at the start. Little by little, they learned to trust, to relax, to be affectionate. Patience. Consistency. Showing up. This is what kindness requires.

I think kindness rises with cruelty because it feels needed. Many of us don't like unfairness or wrong, so practicing kindness is a way to balance things out. It's a way to demonstrate that compassion is also in our human nature—perhaps even more fundamental than cruelty.

It's not all bad.

There is hope, and anyone can do something.

A smile. An act of kindness here or there.

As Maya Angelou said: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

And as the Dalai Lama reminds us: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

This is a call to action: rise up, spread kindness everywhere you go.

This week, look someone in the eyes who is often overlooked. Smile at a stranger. Check in on someone who's struggling.

Choose kindness. It's always possible.

Read part one: The Rise of Cruelty