Today I am struck by how seldom I hear words such as kindness, caring, thoughtful, compassion, wisdom, sharing, and most importantly of all, love. It seems to me that whenever I actually pay attention to any sort of media I never really see these words used much. On the one hand it makes me glad I got rid of cable t.v. and as a result I’m no longer bombarded by so much negativity and rhetoric from some group about another group. And at the same time, I’m saddened by the ubiquitous nature of so much negativity that I wonder how anyone can get out of bed in the morning after listening to it all.
I find myself asking just when did we become a nation of complainers, whiners, critics, and self righteous son of a bitches – to the degree that our children seem to think that they are entitled to take whatever they want from another and if they don’t get the grade they want from a teacher, rather than try to figure out how they can improve, they tell their parents who in turn threaten to sue if little Johnny doesn’t get his A – even if little Johnny didn’t bother to do the assignments.
What happened to love thy neighbor? What happened to do your best? what happened to every one is entitled to their own opinion? What happened to a reverence for life, love and the pursuit of happiness? Did i miss something by turning off the television? Did we enter a new space – time continuum and some how i failed to notice?
I don’t know how we all go to this point. I only know that two things stand clear for me as possible ways out of this current situation. One is that quaint yet true poster entitled, “All Really I Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten” and the other is the Beatles song, “All You Need is Love”. Seriously. I believe that if we take the time to listen to each other, really listen, from a place of kindness and compassion and think of sharing warm cookies and milk with our enemies we might just start creating a better world.
And I believe that love is the true essence of who we are, whether we realize it or not, and if we can each get in touch with our essence we can become better people and that our love will spread out in ripples across the planet.
So how can we spread these ripples – one tiny action at a time. Remember, this blog is about taking actions towards creating a more authentic or “naked” life. And getting to our truest essence is about as authentic as we can get. So I encourage you all to try to be just a little kinder, a little less judgemental and spread love one smile at a time.
I know it’s not always easy. I know I have times when I am critical, unkind and too judgemental. I also know that I’m trying really hard to let go of these things and as I do, my life is calmer, more peaceful and generally a happier place to be. Do I always remember to let go of the negativity and be a kinder gentler me? No. not always. more often. and when it happens I feel more whole. and when it doesn’t i feel as if a part of me has been injured.
I would like to offer you three links as food for thought:
1. a movie that may inspire you to express your loving nature daily
2. that simple yet true poster, All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
3. An article written by Brene Brown for Psychology Today entitled: The Cruelty Crisis: Bullying isn’t a School Problem, It’s a National Pastime
I hope that each of these links will touch you in a way that will result in positive action in your life; action that will hopefully spread out in small ripples to others. Thank you for taking the time to read this post. This one might sound a bit preachy and if it does, i’m sorry about that and i hope it doesn’t turn you off to the message. Because it’s a message that i think we need to start spreading no matter how preachy or polly anna-ish it may sound.
Love is at our core. We just have to believe in it and touch it. And the Beatles got it right, “all we need is love”. peace and love to you all. cms.
