Monday, November 19, 2007

Be kind

I have long, windy posts brewing in my head about this. They've been brewing for awhile and I'm longing for time to sit at the computer and write, write, write.

But before I can write ... I'm longing for time to think, think, think. I need to reflect and formulate and focus on what I want to say.

I want to link to the many different posts that I've read recently that talk about this very same, if simple, idea. Simple, but important. Foundational, really.

Be kind.

That will have to do for now. A day of cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, baking brownies, reading to the kids, math, a volunteer project, and having company for dinner looms.

Maybe scrubbing toilets will afford a bit of time for contemplation. Maybe I can practice what I preach amidst the busy-ness.

Be kind.

11 comments:

Kristen Laurence said...

Yes, yes! I look forward to reading your post on the subject.

"In the evening of our life, we will be judged according to our love." - St. John of the Cross

Beck said...

Being kind is pretty much the main thing I'm trying to instill in my kids.

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to your thoughts, Karen, and hoping some of the ponderings were over a delightful steaming cup o' joe!

Anonymous said...

Like Beck, kindness is our number one objective (and surprisingly hard to instill at times, at least among the impulsive little ones at our house!) :)--I can only hope I'm setting a good example!

We have a "Kindness Tree" during Advent--like the Grateful Trees you posted about--on which we put little angels honoring those we have noticed being kind to each of us during the day. Since I'm getting ready to do this again, your post will be a wonderful inspiration!

(And maybe you'll even inspire me to clean out my toilets tonight! Though I doubt my thoughts will likely wander into "kindness" per se, as I do so, but to each one's own muse, I guess!) :)

love2learnmom said...

Anxious to hear your thoughts on this subject. :)

Anonymous said...

Yes please! I need a "long and windy" post on the topic of kindness. Looking forward to it!

Michelle Waters said...

Looking forward to your post! Of course, like you said, "be kind" is probably just about enough for me to think about and act on!

Leonie said...

I'm trying to remember this, in my day to day dealings with the family. You know - this one and also - be positive!

Maria (also Bia) said...

Finding the time to just think is a luxury I don't have very often. So I find myself in a pensive mood when doing mindless things . . . like cleaning the boys' bathroom (what IS it about toilets in a boy's bathroom??!!) which is what I was doing at 10:30 last night. Nothing earth shattering came to mind . . . I kept thinking about how much I dislike cleaning bathrooms!

Rebecca said...

Kindness is something I am always preaching to the kids but when I think harder about it, it is the thing *I* struggle with the most as well. It is easy to be kind to strangers but difficult when folks are demanding or grumpy in our own homes.

I am anxious to hear your thoughts on kindness, Karen.

Diane said...

Looking forward to this post, Karen. I hope you'll include the links to the other posts too.