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A local organization near me was asking for vol-
unteers to call and check in on elderly folks quar-
antined to their homes due to COVID-19. I chose
to volunteer. It was so rewarding to chat with these
sweet souls. One of the older ladies told me that
even after COVID, she would love to continue to
CHOOSING KIN DNESS
chat with me from time to time. If you choose kind-
ness, you are choosing to open your heart and life
B y S h i r l e y S c a r b r o u g h
to new friendships.
Kindness is the sincere and voluntary use of One of the older women I spoke with shared her
one's time, talent, and resources to better the life story, words of wisdom, and insight on life and
love. Our conversations were long, but never bor-
lives of others, one's own life, and the world ing. Often, the generations may not feel they can
through genuine acts of love, compassion, learn from one another, but I disagree. A toddler Shirley Scarbrough is a
generosity, and service. Moreover, kindness can teach us how to enjoy the simple joys with their retired mother and
innocence and genuine appreciation of taking their
involves choice. first steps or learning the alphabet. The elderly can
teach us how to appreciate a long life by not tak- grandmother. She is
I know how unkindness feels. I choose to ing it too seriously and living in the moment. Our often found in the
young adults and middled aged generations can
extend kindness towards everyone. It might learn valuable tools from both the toddler and the community helping in
have taken a lifetime, but I have learned it is elderly, perhaps most important is to slow-down, anyway she can;
less about how folks treat us and more about express kindness, and to love one another often and spreading kindness
our returned attitude; choose kindness. My always. wherever she goes.
mom has always told me if I were kind to Kindness can be expressed in a variety of ways. Per-
people, they would be kind to me. I interpret- haps by serving the vulnerable, lending a listening
ed her advice as if I remain kind, a seed of ear to a friend in need, or giving your resources to
sustain a family during a financial hardship. How-
kindness will grow within that person. While ever you choose to be kind, remember kindness
I may not see the seed grow into the mighty starts with ourselves. If we are unkind in our mind,
oak, someone else will; all because I chose to our hearts, and soul, we cannot give away some-
be kind. thing we do not have. Kindness is an inside job that
will genuinely light up the lives of other people.
While there are those that normalize hate, let us
persevere to revolutionize kindness, hope, compas-
sion, and love.
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