this kindness life…
February 5, 2011
Things are shifting and evolving for me…I’m thinking so much more about kindness as a way of life. Missions, projects, random acts invite us to try on kindness in the most beautiful ways, they help to shift our perspective, sometimes even ignite deeper thought about how we want to live our lives.
Even still, the last few years kindness has pulled me further down the rabbit hole, sometimes showing me her silly side, her strength, her dark, her play, her reflection, her grace, her truth…all of it has revealed my own stumbling heart, my brokenness, my determination, my passion, my resilience, my power, my despair, my hope, my truth…this kindness life.
SO once a week, I want to share with you what unfolded…and invite you to join me.
in this kindness life:
::mud pies and sand cakes returned
::her first tooth came out, then another
::this required 1/2 hour shrink session/crying/letting go of the beloved teeth (her, not me)
::discovery of tooth fairy joy
::outside bliss moments of warmer air which made kids a crazy kind of happy
::came up with one AWESOME commune neighborhood kindness idea
:: which said idea carried me through lots of work struggles and teary moments
::thoughts about corporate kindness
::thinking about managing people vs. building relationships
::trying to figure out a way to turn problems on their side
:: sweet bread deliciousness
::a full pantry once again
::a reminder that kindness is magic
::finding connection and mending hearts through pure girlieness
::the excitement of being “styled”
::feeling pretty again after a long time
::being pulled completely out of my comfort zone at Zumba
::having enormous fun being terrible at Zumba, laughing so very hard
::trying hard to believe/remember that grace and kindness can find me, no matter what
Do tell me, what happened this week in your kindness life? The comment section is waiting, just for you. (or leave us a link to your blog post)
Kindnessgirl 
February 5, 2011 at 2:18 pm
This gave me such a warm feeling… and some inspiration….
Tnx!
😀
February 8, 2011 at 1:49 pm
thanks S!!! and btw, so loved catching up on your blog today! it makes me laugh AND think.
February 7, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Oh I’d love to hear more about managing people vs building relationships!
A lot of my kindness brain space right now is being devoted to self compassion. It all starts there, right?
February 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Still mulling it around in my head…just wondering if in the corporate world and beyond if we focus so much on managing people vs. building relationships…AND what would happen if we shifted the focus. It involves more time and patience, which is a challenge for producing a bottom line- but i wonder how kindness is/can become a player?
I wholeheartedly agree, it has to move from the inside out, we got nothin’ if our hearts/souls feel empty/tapped out.
Thanks Katie for droppin’ this line, it’s encouraging to me to chat and know this interests others too. 🙂
February 7, 2011 at 11:41 pm
My daughter refuses, staunchly, to leave her teeth for the tooth fairy. They are just far too precious to her. I spent all this time trying to decide whether to keep or toss the teeth, and it turns out I should have asked her.
This week in my life, I have noticed longer days. Watched my 2-year-old shoot hoops using toddler-sized equipment, prepared for my “big kid” to turn 6, rubbed her legs through growing pains and done SO MUCH laundry.
February 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm
it always ends with laundry… 🙂
February 8, 2011 at 12:48 pm
OK, I’ll play… taught my son how to blow a kiss, participated in an ongoing struggle to teach him how to see “please” without feeling mean, cooked and baked love, showed love remotely as best I could, appreciated some girl time, shared excitement over trains, felt like my love is too thick, fought back a lot of jealousy, fought the sewing machine and let it win, did lots of hand stitching, did lots of creative dreaming, got a lot of work done, drank too much coffee, got too little sleep. (Wow, that last week was lot better than I thought it was!)
February 8, 2011 at 1:50 pm
ohhhh, i love, love, love this list Mel. Everytime you comment it makes me wish you had a blog- just yours, so i could read all those swirling thoughts in your head…
February 23, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Hmmm…for someone who strives to be kind at all costs…my heart didn’t feel as kind as I might have portrayed myself.
I, too, am interested in building relationship rather than managing people. I actually have the opportunity to do this in my job (on a VERY small scale…small people (-1st and second graders)and small number of opportunities (i’m not in a situation where my voice can be heard). I’m CONVINCED…in my soul… that once a relationship is build things move much faster than if there is no trusting relationship as a foundation. I think that productivity would flourish after the initial relationship foundation is established. Upkeep would be necessary, but minimal.
Anywhoooo
LOVE the idea…
Love you and your kindness!
February 23, 2011 at 2:02 pm
YES!! I so agree which is why I am fascinated by the lack of that approach, on a very simple level, it just seems like it would work/produce so much better/more. Thanks for your thoughts B, I always love reading them…
February 23, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Sorry about all of the typos. 🙂