“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
―
Ever in your life felt like no one is fighting as difficult a battle as you? I have, and I’m embarrassed by my arrogance. Still, being overwhelmed is being overwhelmed, and once that wave washes over you, it’s sometimes hard to stand up.
I don’t quite agree with Plato that everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle, because everyone’s life ebbs and flows, but you don’t know what you don’t see. So being kind because everyone you meet might be fighting a harder battle seems like the more pragmatic way of thinking.
When I was a teenager, I noticed a lot of the older women in the grocery store–or wherever–seemed to be scowling. I took a bit of offense to that, because I thought they were scowling at me (like I said, I was a teenager), until one day I smiled at one of these ladies. Her smile in return had me quite taken aback and I realized, her frown had nothing to do with me. Or anyone else, for that matter.
After that, I took to smiling at ladies who didn’t look happy, and the response I got was quite gratifying. While many of them may have been quite content, at least some of them were in pain, physical or emotional, and perhaps my smile made their day a little brighter. It was kindness, and I know now that the burdens many bear at 70 are a lot worse than what I was dealing with at 17 (and I had my share of pain).
Not long ago a child in my apartment complex came running up to me. I was surprised and thought she may have mistaken me for someone else, but she grinned at me and said, “here’s a lucky penny!” and handed me said coin. That was so sweet it made my day. I hadn’t been having a particularly difficult time of it, but kindness is always appreciated. And yes, her mom was nearby, keeping her generous daughter safe from stranger danger.
Be kind. It may be a ripple in a pond that goes a long way.
Image Credit: ©TOimages–stock.adobe.com
My World With Words 
One morning, someone wished me to have a good day after I held the door for them coming out of the convenience store. Everyone is usually just rushing in and out, but in that moment I realized a little humanity in such a hectic environment might just be a good thing. Since that time, I’ve wished many folks to have a good day while holding the door for them and they always seem to respond positively, leaving us both smiling as we go about our days.
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It’s a good feeling, being kind, just one more reason to make someone smile!
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Absolutely be kind. I love how your smile to those older women surprised you when they smiled back. Amazing what a smile can do.
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It is, and it was a good lesson at a young age!
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This is such a great topic, Belinda, and I love how you approached it with your personal memories. I tend to smile a lot and when I get a warm response back, it reinforces my smile. I try not to let people who scowl throw me off. It’s just seems so much easier to be kind!
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I’ve found that age has often brought that scowl instead of a bad disposition. Age is unkind to our faces in many ways. Anyway, I try to overlook it because I don’t know where it’s coming from and a smile is usually welcome. If it’s not, I figure their troubles are bigger than mine.
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It is good to learn kindness at an early age. We were not put here to live alone.
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I wholeheartedly agree.
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Well said Belinda. xo
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So good to hear from you. I hope you’re doing well!
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That’s nice to hear, thank you 🙂 I hope you’re doing well too. I’ve just been very busy with my psychology degree (learning from home). I now have the last paper that’s combined with the exam. I’m not good at maths so that always scares me! (We look at studies and at cells under a digital microscope).
How are your kitty kats? xo
P. S. I just bought a box set of Veronica Lake films – Film Noir Collection – and another boxset of The Best Of Ealing Collection, and (!) The Man That Never Was (having been disappointed at the new film Mincemeat; I read the Operation Mincemeat book last year, it’s very entertaining).
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You sound busy! Congratulations on earning your degree. That’s quite an accomplishment. The Veronica Lake films sound fun. I haven’t been real good about keeping up with my movie blog, but I’ll get back to it. My kitties are sassy and happy.
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Thank you, but it’s only the first year, I’ve three more to go, it’s part time. I never had the chance to study when I was young because of parental pressure to work in their business, then I married young with step-children.
Two of the British films from the other boxset might appeal to you – they’re favourites of mine – The Man With The White Suit is a little ‘futuristic’ regarding the special powers of the suit’s fabric (never able to get dirty), and the hilariously funny (*please do watch this one if you have the chance, it’ll have you laughing!*) The Lady Killers. Veronica Lake the original Jessica Rabbit… apparently (I don’t know if you knew) she had quite a sense of humour, I read some of her autobiography, Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Veronica-Autobiography-Lake/dp/191305473X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22JJCB110NA4A&keywords=veronica+lake&qid=1661611913&s=books&sprefix=veronica+lake%2Cstripbooks%2C77&sr=1-1
I’m glad puss-cats are sassy and happy M M 🙂
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Once I started going through perimenopause, I posted something like this, “All women should be giving each other a high-five and a fist bump, just because.” Meaning, we all know what it means to be a woman, even at 17, there are things with which we must contend, and I think it would be easier for all of us to acknowledge this in some way. Those scowling women were, like you said, probably in some type of pain…whatever it was.
Apologies for gendering this, but it spoke to me 😉
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No apologies needed! I’m glad it spoke to you, and thank you for connecting to something you’d written.
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