Kindness: Has That Word Lost Its Meaning? Do People Really Care?

Kindness. Clara Brown wrote about that earlier this morning. She is one of our Directors here at Daughters of Sheba Foundation. Our day started with a post from her reminding us to be kind to ourselves.

We need to be kind to ourselves, understanding that we are not super humans. We are but mere mortals and perfection will elude us. Make it a habit to feed yourself with kindness. This does not mean encouraging bad habits, but do not beat up yourself repeatedly over things you did or had no control over. Instead chose to learn lessons from those experiences, embracing the journey and moving on.

Kindness: Nice Word But Lost Meaning

Frankly, it is my impression that we have lost the true value of that word. Kindness for many is seen as:

Weakness
Neediness or Desperation
Stupidity
Naivety

The list could go on and on. One that I must add is “Christian.” Kindness is often equated to being a Christian. People will say, “It is the Christian thing to do – to be kind.”

However, is it really?

To Be Kind

Sadly, the nightly newscasts are filled with stories of animosity or downright cruelty. Rampant and subtle hatred one person or group towards another is spewed hourly. When the headlines are less hateful, you get instead messages filled with fear or that somehow you are not enough.

Social media has not really helped. Based on algorithms and the websites that you frequent, your newsfeed can be filled with images and stories that are the opposite of kindness.

My nightly entertainment before turning to my meditation is to spend maybe 15 or so minutes viewing “Facebook Watch”. God alone knows why I do it because most nights it is torture! What comes across the screen are people, especially women, vying for their 9-minutes of fame, belittling themselves and others. The meanness, the cussing out and the shaming of others – for what?

Growing up in Jamaica, as a child people would extend themselves to be kind one to another. This was especially true in rural areas. Around the mid-1980s, changes began when “the struggle got real.” Cutthroat living started to take root. Sadly, watching these videos on Facebook and Instagram – it has been a downward slide.

What Are We So Mean?

Whatever your politics, a jacket worn by the current First Lady of the USA summarises what seems to be a general sentiment these days.

I really don’t care. Do you?

Never mind the words, the most recent explanation why the jacket was chosen and worn to meet children separated from their parents and locked up in cages is just as astounding.

Attention – the jacket was worn to get attention.

The same is true for those who are being mean – they are doing it for attention. They want to be seen, they want their time in the spotlight and celebrity status, those stars on Facebook is a reason for them to be unkind.

Be Kind Anyway

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.” ― Kent M. Keith

Why We Serve

This Foundation exists to be kind. Our focus is on women and children – lifting them out of poverty, one at a time. Most definitely we want to be recognised. We would love to be among the highly-rated organizations giving back and supporting communities. If it means sacrificing our principles that is not going to happen.

You will never see us posting videos or any content that is unkind to any group of people. Our aim is to lift not step on the backs of others to get noticed.

My philosophy is simple – you get what you give. This is not about how to get more money or followers but how to share kindness and love. As nations and people of this world, we have for long tried the other ways – warring, conflicts, judgement, etc – and to what end?

Well, we plan to go about it differently, one kind act at a time. We have created projects such as the Student Data Grant – which is our primary focus this month. Through this initiative, we are targeting at least 10 children needing to get back to school. Would you help us? Go to our Donation form and give however much you can, please and thank you.

Help To Spread Love

Spread some kindness by commenting below and visiting our social media profiles – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. We greatly appreciate it. Every week, we host what we call Sunday Spirit on Facebook and Instagram and this past week, Gloria Rose-Saunders, our kindest Director, shared the following video.