Choose Kind

My friend treating me to a meal of Bún chả

In this world we often see the dark side of things. People hating people. People offended and unforgiving. People focused on "what is in this for me" and cheating to get ahead. People giving action to evil thoughts and plans (shootings and other murderous and abusive acts). Wow! There are those moments that we can say, "What is happening to our world?!"

      Stop-step back-refocus-see the good that still surrounds us.

I love this quote that I read some time ago...I have it posted above my desk
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                      "In a world where you can choose anything...Choose Kind."

So, what does this look like?
Well, let me share a story... (click READ MORE)

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Living in SE Asia has it's differences from the USA. One of those areas is driving techniques and rules. Imagine--getting cut off in traffic and the irritation that begins to boil inside...well...then multiply that by 100 and you've got a SE Asia experience. In the USA we learn defensive driving. In our part of the world (as expats) it's "every man for himself" type of thinking. My husband describes it in a kinder way. It's learning to swim like a minnow in a school of minnows. It means weaving in and out and working your way around one another with no one really giving another the "right of way" in the traffic.

So...back to kindness.

For me I choose kindness in these moments. That means I let the irritation go when someone "cuts me off" because they didn't yield like I expected or wanted. I realize that I have to learn their method. It's partly to survive and partly to be kind! hahaha!

One time I had the urge to kick the door of a car when I thought they were coming out in front of me. Well, they did not cut out in front of me and I caught myself. I realized that I have to tame that irritation and choose kindness. Kindness in my thoughts. Kindness in my actions. Kindness in my face (a smile vs a mean frown).

In those moments of weaving in and out of traffic, I focus on gratitude. I am thankful for safety. I am thankful for seeing someone dart out in front of me and being able to stop. I am thankful for making it to my destination. I am thankful for the journey of the ride. Gratitude helps to unlock the kindness that is inside of me. It helps to tame the ferocious lion of anger or irritation that tries to come up in the difficult moments of traffic weaving.

I encourage each of us in our situations...Choose Kindness...Maybe it will rub off on more people in our world today.

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