During much of this week we heard words like these describing in his passing President George H.W. Bush:
‘He lived by high standards of decency, fair play, humility, love of family and love of country. He was relentlessly moderate in both temperament and political instinct.
This type of “establishment” code is easier to lampoon than replace. So much of what a graceless age dismisses as repression is actually politeness, compassion and dignity.’
It makes me wonder – can we be kind and not appear to be weak?
Consider this quote – “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Does this reflect any weakness? Not to me.
So why is it that we, all of us, do not display kindness more often?
It makes me feel great inside, poets might say – it warms my heart – when kindness is given by me to others and often even more so when witnessing kindness given by others to others and no one knows they were being seen by someone else sharing kindness.
Is politeness an act of kindness?
“Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business. Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat your patrons abruptly. The truth is, the more kind and liberal a person is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him.” ~ P. T. Barnum
Is compassion an act of kindness?
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
~ Albert Einstein
To have dignity and always display it – is it an act of kindness?
“Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength.” ~ James E. Faust
Is it really fair to blame social media, the easy access to cameras and recordings and the media for our behavior?
Call me old fashion, on my commute home from a networking event in NYC the other night, I opened the door for two ladies and then after walked through myself. They smiled and said ‘Thank you’ and I said ‘You’re welcome, have a good evening.’
Didn’t know them.
They didn’t know me.
Most likely will never meet again.
It is not too late.
It is not too much effort.
It is not a sign of weakness.
It is a sign of strength.
John C. Maxwell has said “There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self-respect. ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.”
If you feel it is too much trouble to change now.
Teach the children.
Let them know
“..kindness is not weakness, it is strength.” ~ Mitch Tublin
Mitch Tublin is the CEO and Founder of Wenkroy International LLC a boutique consulting company with a main focus on Strategic Business Consulting, Training and Business Coaching. Our passion is to take people to the next level in their life and in their business.
