A Simple Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way

A Simple Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way

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A Simple Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way

A letter to the community from Kindhumans Director of Sales Eddie Gilbert

What if we knew then what we know now? Better yet, what if we acted on what we knew, rather than turning a blind eye because it was simply easier? If hindsight is 20/20, then what is foresight?

From where I stand, it seems that foresight for 2021 shows kindness.

As I sit here two weeks into a new year, I can’t help but sit and reflect on what has transpired in the last 12 months. It seems we all wish we could channel our inner Cher and turn back time and go back to before it all happened, but I’d rather stay present and ask myself how I can learn from the past 12 months, and what I can do differently to be the change I want to see in the world.

 

We can listen.

We can have empathy.

We can spread love.

We can celebrate humanity, diversity, and equity.

We can put our planet and the people that inhabit it first, and we can use kindness as our greatest tool to effect positive change.

As a father of two, I want my children to understand the value of kindness; of putting people and the planet first. I want to leave this world in a better place than how I found it, and I want to teach my children that they have the power to make all the difference in the world if they act with soul, heart, and mindfulness.

“A simple act of kindness goes a long way.”

I was texting with a dear friend earlier this morning and we were discussing all that has happened over the past year. Living in northern California, we discussed the fires, the global pandemic, the number of businesses that have been forced to close, and the fact that it seemed much of the hope we all had was lost in a sea of smoldering ash and forgotten dreams. 

In the midst of the planet fighting back while a virus ravaged our global society, we also lost icons that have been central figures in our lives. And though I’m sure I won’t remember everyone, people like Kobe Bryant, John Prine, Chadwick Boseman, Congressman – and civil rights icon – John Lewis, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Little Richard, and Frederick “Toots” Hibbert come to mind. “Toots” hit me harder than many this year, as his music has always been a fixture in my life since I first learned to spin a record. He helped give reggae its authentic sound and brought it an eternal grace that I have always connected with. And as a white Jewish kid from the San Fernando Valley who knows nothing about being a black man growing up in an impoverished country, I thank him for making music that brought people together and helped all humanity find common ground in song. 

If we are to make kindness the mantra for 2021, then it’s time we think about the simple things we can do to make it happen.

Smile.

Love.

Hug (sorry social distancing).

Recycle.

Buy less.

Pick up your trash.

Minimize waste.

Stop using plastics.

Support small businesses and your local community.

Play in your local body of water.

Give back to those less fortunate.

Spend time in nature.

Inspire our youth to be better by teaching them how to make choices that better serve their world. 

I was chatting with a colleague the other day and she mentioned the current state of the world is making her think twice about having children. Though I understand that logic, I also couldn’t imagine not having my children, especially considering my daughter, Ophelia, joined us in February of 2020. She and my son Hendrix are my everything and raising them to be stewards of this planet and teaching them how to make their world a better place is my greatest responsibility. We can’t guarantee that the world will be here forever, but we can make choices to help heal it from within, and we can teach our kids the power they have if we’re willing to show them the way through our own actions.

The time is now for us to change. Don’t try to be perfect, because perfection is unattainable. Instead, believe in the power that one good choice leads to another, and know that we all have the small ability to make a big impact. Make 2021 the year of kindness, and take responsibility that each of your actions have a direct effect on something else. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and I for one have learned in my time at Kindhumans the value of my choices and how easily I can affect positive change with every decision I make. 

No one ever said change was easy, and nothing easy is worth having in the first place. Though I cannot predict the future, I can state as a fact that the world needs more kindness, and if we can all find a way to bring it into our lives, the world (and ourselves) will be better for it.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present. Our communities and our planet are the most precious things we have. Let’s not waste them by disconnecting from the emotional fabric that brings us all together, but rather use kindness as the totem for us to build a strong foundation for the future. Live in the moment and let kindness ring out for all to hear and experience.

With love & gratitude,

Eddie

 

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