Kindness Is Cool!

 I was standing in line at the checkout of my local Publix today and turned to the elderly man behind me and greeted him,  "How are you today?"  At first he looked blankly at me and then a smile crept on his face and he replied, " Pretty good for a 90 year old.  Thanks for asking, how are you?"  We talked for a minute and then it was my turn with the cashier.

"Hi! I hope you are having a good day!"  She replied, "Thanks, you are very nice.  Not many people ever ask!"  I finished the transaction and started to leave the store when a random woman came up to me and remarked, "I noticed that you greet everybody.  It is not often that you see that today."  I replied, "Yes, try it and you will find that Kindness is Cool!"

My wife tells me that I know no strangers and talk to everybody, wherever we are.  I see that as a positive, not a criticism, and wonder if more people would show the simple politeness in their attitudes and behavior around others, that maybe this would be a better and more productive society.  We are all so wrapped up in our own daily activities, problem and challenges and forget that a kind word, a greeting or the showing of a little interest goes a long way in not only our attitudes, but the attitudes of others.

There are those that would call me "WOKE," but I believe that the showing of respect to everybody around you is the right thing to do.  It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or Republican; straight or gay; old or young; white, brown, black, yellow, green or purple; man, woman or neither; rich or poor; blue collar or white collar; laborer or executive or professional.  EVERYBODY deserves respect.  You don't have to agree with any of these people to show kindness.  So, if that make me Woke, then so be it...I am Woke!  The bag boy at the grocery store can feel invisible until you greet him with a smile, a nod or a quick hello.  The toll taker on the highway or the parking attendant in the garage are doing mundane jobs, but if you take 5 seconds and ask, "How are you today?" then they feel noticed!  Try it!  Kindness is Cool!

There is way too much hate in the world today.  The venom spewed by certain political candidates is beyond normal and calling your opponent racially motivated slurs and anyone who disagrees with you the "enemy within" is totally unacceptable.  Our children and grandchildren are watching and if this becomes normalized acceptable behavior, then we are in for a world of hurt and pain.

My son, Brad, is the Executive Director of an overnight camp in Northern California whose mission is rooted in the Jewish vision of creating a more environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually connected world.  At Eden Village West, campers feel safe and free to be themselves.  They are committed to giving every child that wants to attend Eden Village West a possibility to be a camper.  They are taught that Kindness is Cool and the more we instill those values in all of our children, the better off this world will be. 

If you agree and are able, please consider making a donation to this non-profit camp to help. Just go to this website and give whatever you can:  https://edenvillagewest.org/campershipcampaign/  Thank you!

And The Journey continues.....