Genuinely loved this, even though it is painful to see my countrymen and women become so judgemental and mean spirited. A long while ago someone told me, "If you don't like somebody, it's because you don't know their story." I have mulled that one over for decades now and the older I get the more true it becomes.
That's a sobering analysis. Love your take on it. I honestly don't understand how people are so judgmental of others, or don't see the kindness all around them. I think they just don't know where to look, or maybe their lives don't have a lot of threads. Being the parent of three busy kids, and one with a disability, has helped push me into lots of spaces I wouldn't ordinarily go, I guess. I see kindness everywhere, every day. The hotel cook who welcomes the homeless vet into the dining area and fixes his coffee every morning. The suit-fitter at Men's Warehouse who was so patient with my son and gave him agency to speak for himself. The women in our community who are always ready to cook meals for those who are sick or hurting. Teens who volunteer their time to help kids with disabilities. Everywhere, Everything All at Once. Just look harder.
I totally agree with you Victoria. Getting out in the real world, especially volunteering to help others, you see kindness everywhere. But on social media, the opposite is true.
I almost jumped in after you mentioned Canada then I realised you were Joshing. The problem with kindness, older women have found in recent years, is that people start taking liberties. In light of which I suggest supplementing kindness with gratitude for the ordinary riches many of us have. Formerly, for many years, a cynical grumbler I have seen the light.
As an 80 year old man living in an over 55 community where most of us are 70 to 80 yand about 75% are women, I unfortunately see the kindest of women too often being taken advantage of. And because they are so kind, they rarely push back.
Great analysis, Paul! I’m a Boomer, and perhaps our generation feels the disconnect between what we’re bombarded with these days, and the confidence with which we viewed the future for most of our lives, than other generations do. But along with the amazement at the current state of affairs comes the wisdom of experience, and the practice of assuming the goodness of people. God bless!
Genuinely loved this, even though it is painful to see my countrymen and women become so judgemental and mean spirited. A long while ago someone told me, "If you don't like somebody, it's because you don't know their story." I have mulled that one over for decades now and the older I get the more true it becomes.
That's a sobering analysis. Love your take on it. I honestly don't understand how people are so judgmental of others, or don't see the kindness all around them. I think they just don't know where to look, or maybe their lives don't have a lot of threads. Being the parent of three busy kids, and one with a disability, has helped push me into lots of spaces I wouldn't ordinarily go, I guess. I see kindness everywhere, every day. The hotel cook who welcomes the homeless vet into the dining area and fixes his coffee every morning. The suit-fitter at Men's Warehouse who was so patient with my son and gave him agency to speak for himself. The women in our community who are always ready to cook meals for those who are sick or hurting. Teens who volunteer their time to help kids with disabilities. Everywhere, Everything All at Once. Just look harder.
I totally agree with you Victoria. Getting out in the real world, especially volunteering to help others, you see kindness everywhere. But on social media, the opposite is true.
I almost jumped in after you mentioned Canada then I realised you were Joshing. The problem with kindness, older women have found in recent years, is that people start taking liberties. In light of which I suggest supplementing kindness with gratitude for the ordinary riches many of us have. Formerly, for many years, a cynical grumbler I have seen the light.
As an 80 year old man living in an over 55 community where most of us are 70 to 80 yand about 75% are women, I unfortunately see the kindest of women too often being taken advantage of. And because they are so kind, they rarely push back.
Great analysis, Paul! I’m a Boomer, and perhaps our generation feels the disconnect between what we’re bombarded with these days, and the confidence with which we viewed the future for most of our lives, than other generations do. But along with the amazement at the current state of affairs comes the wisdom of experience, and the practice of assuming the goodness of people. God bless!