Be kind, always.
Be kind, always.
Be kind, always.

Two years ago, I wrote a post urging folks to remember to be kind to everyone. When D and I found out that we’re expecting, I was crushed. Crushed because we’ll be raising our child in a strange new climate… One that erases “kindness”.

I never thought that hate, separation, deportation, segregation, et al would be a reality I’d live in. I spent the past 8 years working so hard for social justice and seeing measurable wins that I didn’t see this happening.

As someone who is struggling with depression and anxiety, kindness is crucial. I was once yelled at (as an adult) at Disney World by a woman who thought I had cut in line. She berated me in front of her children and I walked out of the gift store in tears, mortified because she was okay with being nasty to a person who was simply looking at the counter for a trinket.

Any other person would have just brushed that interaction off. But for me, I had that interaction replay over and over and over — letting it ruminate. My day was ruined simply because someone was unkind.

So why is this so important? D and I have often thought about what we would want to instill in our children. This was way before we knew we were having Lil Bean, and to be honest, it’s probably a good idea to have these types of talks with your partner in advance. Our parenting style is dictated by how we want our child to treat others. we want our kids to be kind and to love their neighbor. You know the saying – “Love thy neighbor as thyself”? Yup.

Imagine how great it would be if everyone could just remember to be kind. To love. To accept. To understand. To remember empathy.

By all means, kindness doesn’t mean to let people walk all over you. Kindness to D and I means to step up, act out, and speak up. Kindness to D and I means to support those who are oppressed. Kindness to us means to stand up against injustices. Kindness means to have courage when you believe you have none; to make sure that you are not a bystander. That is what we believe is kindness.

It’s a simple thing, honestly. Just be kind. Always.

‘Til the next time.
– E