Kindness Optional
It's been quite some time since the pandemic hit and yet we are still trying to cope with the aftermath. While we’re finally able to meet and greet each other, something seems off. Have you noticed that people rarely look one another in the eye anymore?
It's true, and it's a problem that’s affecting us socially. Despite being surrounded by people, we still feel isolated and alone. Why is this happening, and what can we do about it?
Consider this.
The pandemic has left us with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. We’re constantly worried about our health and safety, and this can make it hard for us to connect with others. When we do venture out, we may still be too preoccupied with our own worries to really engage with the people around us.
Think about it, this pandemic forced us to spend a lot of time isolated at home and away from the social interactions that we need as humans. We may have become accustomed to being alone, and it can be hard to break out of that mindset.
But here’s something else that has happened. We’ve lost a sense of others. Sadly, we’ve become, more often than not more selfish and absorbed in our own lives. I say this as it’s been evident that not only are we not looking at one another, say when we’re walking down the street, but it also appears that we’re not giving way or consideration to one other. We’re leaving little space for others. We’re literally bumping into one another as we walk. It’s bazaar behaviour, and it appears to be just fine. In fact, when you ask for a little room or you’ve already been bumped, you’re looked at as if, “What?”
I don’t get it. We’re walking around as if we have a shield of armour trying to knock one another down.
Just the other morning I was out for an early morning run when 2 young women were walking towards me side-by-side on the sidewalk giving me no room to go by. They had absolutely no intention of moving to allow me to pass. In fact, while I was running closer toward them, giving them ample time, I said; excuse me several times so that they’d be prepared to give way. Nope. They kept on walking as if they wanted to set up a barrier. My immediate thought was, Huh?
Let’s think about this. It’s not only the idea that people aren’t giving way to others, but also the unnecessary added build-up of anxiety, frustration, and thinking, that’s going on as others choose not to peacefully share space. Over time it creates resentment, and with resentment comes anger, with anger there is little room for love. Anger and love do not co-exist.
And … their lies an additional struggle that doesn’t need to be. When did this start to happen? Was it the day we started venturing out into the world after the pandemic? I don’t know. I just know civility has declined. Dramatically.
How do we change this? How do we reconnect with each other and rebuild our social lives? I didn’t think it was that complicated. I can think of one significant simple word that we can all act upon, and that’s kindness. Practicing kindness so that we can live with kindness.
It’s truly that simple.
Because right now, we’re setting a poor example of what it means to be human. While we’re more disconnected than ever before, there is no excuse to not be more thoughtful, to not be kind, to not show compassion and awareness of those around us.
Let’s stop this me-me society because without us-us learning to move in this world together, it won’t work.
Sure, I’m coming at this from frustration as I’m a little weary of being bumped into with a smile. It doesn’t mean I won’t continue to move through this world with kindness, quite the contrary - it’ll take even more kindness to override what’s transpiring. I’m all for more kindness. But the question remains - Who’s with me?
By making a real effort to look around, engage with others, look one another in the eye with a smile, and being mindful of our body language, we can start to break down the barriers that the pandemic has erected.
It’s not just a cliche - we are all in this together, and we will get through it together … with kindness.