Try Kindness First
A friend recently shared her “10 Personal Principles” with me. Number one on her list is: Try Kindness First. I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness lately. Here are some thoughts from others on the subject:
I shall pass through this world but once. Anything, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again!
Etienne de Grallet
He who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid, ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred on him, and to talk of it, is little different from reproach.
Demosthenes
Make a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: “I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day.”
Charles Kingsley
I’ve decided to make “Try Kindness First” number one on my own list. Wishing you a Sunday full of kindness and love. Maybe we’ll talk about the other nine principles another day.
Silver in the Barn 
Do please eventually tell us the other nine.
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Ding, ding, ding, ding! You win the prize! First comment on my newly-hatched blog! Well, since you’re the one that first turned me on to blogs in the first place, it really should be you. Anyway, yes, the other nine will come (probably one at a time.)
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You have been very busy, Barbara! I am really enjoying your blog. You definitely have an artist’s soul and talent. Keep writing!
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Yes! So important!
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Thanks, Cindy. Not always easy to do but worth the effort, for sure.
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Barbara~
Kindness. Hmmmmm……. it is not seen much lately, is it? Impatience, sharp words, selfishness…those are seen more frequently these days I think. Whenever someone is rude or short with me, I TRY to remember that I don’t know what they’ve been through. Then I try to compliment them on something. Anything. It usually works. Sometimes it takes two compliments. And a smile. It takes work and purposeful effort to be kind. The returns are always worth it though.
Thank you for the kindly, gentle reminder my friend!
Donna~Faded Velvet
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Donna, I love your technique here. It doesn’t diminish us to treat even surly and unfriendly people with kindness as you describe here. You are so right that the “returns are always worth it” even if the only return is a sense of well-being in ourselves. Thank you!!
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I really love the idea of establishing guiding principles. We all have them – whether we think we do or not. Try Kindness First is a beautiful one. I’m not surprised you would select that one ❤
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Thank you, Joanne. And I fail miserably at it more often than I care to admit. We are all so human, after all. It’s just ten principles, and it was infinitely harder than I imagined it would be.
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You are preaching to the choir, my friend. My intentions are always good … the execution often has gaping flaws.
As you say, we are human. The fact we try makes us evolved.
… that doesn’t stop me from feeling deep shame over my failings …
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Kindness = love in action ❤ Love it!
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I love this, Barbara and shared them on Facebook. Try Kindness first – true. It’s better to be kind. Thank you for sharing. 😉
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Wow, thank you, Judy!
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Brilliant. I have always thought that only one commandment was ever necessary ‘be kind to other people’, this expresses it better.
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I think you show graciousness and kindness in your manners expressed in your posts and comments. You are one who would be able to post about principles and not tread on any toes, Barb. Your first one is perfect and the second one, was great, too. Expectations are ones which we must try to hold inside, since they may hurt the other who we have expected from… hugs, Robin
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