Kindness and compassion.
I've found myself reflecting on them lately. For me, they're virtues I try to embody in my day-to-day life. While I don't always succeed, I always try to make sure that I leave the people I interact with in a happier, better place than when I found them.
In today's world too often people discard kindness and compassion, for one reason or another. What was once regarded as a virtue is now seen as a weakness by some people more interested in furthering their ideology or scoring some kind of imaginary social points.
Over the last few weeks, the South Cariboo has seen a few issues that have brought out an uglier side to the community. Fear and misinformation caused some to put aside their kindness and compassion in favour of protectionism and callousness.
To be fair a large part of human nature is a tendency towards tribalism and exclusion. In times long past this was a survival mechanism as conforming with a group ensured you would be looked after by your community. Indeed, often people would offer kindness and compassion exclusively to that in-group at the exclusion of all others.
Yet at the same time, humanity can be and should be better than that. It's easy to show kindness and compassion to someone who looks like you, thinks like you and doesn't inconvenience you. The challenge lies in extending that same courtesy to people you disagree with, who are different from you and have challenges that need to be addressed.
To do so shows a special level of strength, one that we, rightfully, lionize when it occurs. It's not always easy but the best things in life rarely are.
I think it is especially important as we mark Pink Shirt Day this week to keep this in mind. To realize we have more in common with one another than not. That extending a hand to help others or to stand up and say something is wrong is important. Model behaviour for our children that proves we don't tolerate bullies be they in school, government or the community.
Moreover, when we are confronted with issues that need addressing, we should seek to work together to fix them, not spend time tearing each other apart over differences of opinion. Compromise is another virtue that is to often these days overlooked, but it's a key component of living in a society. None of us can get everything we want but that doesn't mean we can't try to meet everyone's needs to the best of our abilities.
After all at the end of the day what unites us all? A desire to be accepted for who we are, to be loved and respected and to be happy. If the price of that is just a little kindness, compassion and consideration for the feelings of others, I think that's a price well worth paying.
Don't you?
