Sounds a bit wacky, doesn't it. A bit hippy-dippy, 1960s, make love not war, all that stuff.
But hang on a minute.
Last week I pointed out that the government in the UK is fostering a climate of fear. (The link is here, if you missed it.) They would like us to creep into corners while they drop bombs on the 'bad guys'. While I suggested that there are millions of kind, wonderful, fascinating people in the world and we will only make progress if we get out there, understand and celebrate our differences.
There is, I think, a parallel in this Kindness Initiative. We can either pull up our metaphorical drawbridges, look after ourselves and those closest to us, let the rest of the world sink or swim. Or we can open our doors and our thinking and do our bit - however small - to oil the global wheels. (I know, too many metaphors.)
So the Mandala Trust (I'll come back to them in a minute) have defined November 13th as World Kindness Day. Just one day to make a point of thinking of someone else - from the half-forgotten man down the road with just his dog for company to the women walking miles in crippling heat to collect water - and doing something small. Take the old man to the library. Buy your neighbour a cake. Help the mother in the supermarket with two small children and a week's worth of shopping to pack.
Kindness can be infectious. I help the woman up the road. She offers her neighbour a lift to the station. The neighbour gives up his seat on the train for the woman with more shopping bags than hands ... and so it goes on. There's no reason for the wave to end. And if it should peter out because someone is having a bad day, then start another.
Does that seem so wacky now? So hippy-dippy? So 1960s? So here's the link for Operation Kindness Worldwide. Drop by and like them. And spend a minute or two thinking - what can you do on the 13th?
(And the Mandala Trust? The man behind it happened to be there when I was taken, suddenly and dramatically, ill on a beach in Cambodia. He held my world together when I was unable to do it for myself. He is a good, decent, honest man. And he runs the Mandala Trust - a small organisation that helps fund projects across the world that are set up and run by local people. For instance, I met a man in Cambodia who has a project to enable the children of parents who work on the dumpsite go to school - he has set it up himself, in response to a local need. All the Mandala Trust does is help pay rent, wages for a cook etc, just to keep the show in the road. They don't wade in with Western ideas about right and wrong, but prop up tiny projects run by local people that might collapse without them. So if all you can manage on the 13th is to put your hand in your pocket for a penny or two, here is their website: The Mandala Trust.)
A great concept, even if the most you can do is smile at people you usually don't even notice! Love it Jo! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll click on the link...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds wonderful Jo. I was appalled to hear on the news that people in the Philippeans are still living in makeshift shacks and tents a year after the disaster. I then hear that the EU wants over 2 billion pounds from the Uk. 2 billion? What in heavens name are they going to do with that kind of money. Their act of kindness would be to give it to the people who don't even have what constitutes as basic human needs. Everyone should be kinder to one another,it's not difficult. Thanks for reminding us.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Anne - it's really not that difficult.
DeleteI've always thought that kindness is the most important ingredient in anyone.
ReplyDeleteHow I agree!! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
DeleteJo, I've read more about the Mandala Trust now. It seems to be a wonderful organisation. I'll share their page around! Like Anne, I find it tragic that the people in the Philippines are still in such dire straits, so the more we can spread the word about people who work so hard to help those in need or trouble, the better.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Val. The Mandala Trust is largely unsung, as it's so small. But the change they bring to ordinary people's lives is simply wonderful. Thanks for supporting them.
DeleteTo me it sounds like a cracking initiative, if you ask me. I wasn't aware that it was today, though, and I just read my latest post again and... well. :-)
ReplyDeleteThen, again, in order to be kind to people one must also acknowledge one's own shortcomings. Thanks for your response. Who is to blame? Surely the media inflame the situation, but it's up to us to make our decisions. It's a tough call, however, as many crimes are committed by people wearing a hoodie. That doesn't mean that everyone wearing a hoodie is a criminal. I think that's what we have to get right. The young people volunteering in our Big Local project wear hoodies and congragate in corners, but they are as anxious, kind and loving as any other teenager.
Have a great weekend.
Greetings from London.
Fear makes some people deathly averse to globalization and increasingly in support of reverting to those "good old days" of isolationism. Still, I have hope that we humans will continue to progress, and to take better care of each other, no matter WHERE the people in need may live.
ReplyDeleteYes, kindness really is contagious. This was a terrific post about a terrific organization.