“I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind.” ~Khalil Gibran

This month has brought me several situations that I have had to reflect upon.
How do I react?
What are the lessons within these struggles?
I’ve learned from my readings of Eckhart Tolle that when others live in the state of unconsciousness it is a gift to us.
When others are unkind, there is a lesson for us to learn from it.
Go figure??
But once you come to realize that the gift is in there, tolerance and kindness within yourself grows.
For example.
A recent discussion with my kind and giving daughter.
She was swayed into a decision that upon reflection, she didn’t want to make.
She was immensely upset about it.
It was something she didn’t want to do but she did it anyways.
My advice to her was that she now knows to speak up, use her strong voice and listen to her heart.
The “friend” that swayed her gave her the gift of reflection.
I told her to remember how this moment felt and to remind herself of that feeling if she ever feels pulled again.
A Gift.
And here’s what it all comes down to: kindness.
Schoolyard life, the struggles of little people like bullying, being excluded from play groups, birthday parties and such can be devastating in children’s lives.
As grownups we suffer more acute trauma in bigger and grander situations, but none the less devastating.
I tell my kids to send those who are unkind good energy.
Send them love, send them insightfulness, and send them peace.
Because they know no different.
Hope for them to be bathed in loving-kindness, that they are inundated with so much that they cannot help but share it with the world.
While it’s true that kindness engenders kindness, the lack of it can be a powerful teacher.
For every time you are hurt be abundantly kind to everyone you meet.
Compliment those with a joyful spirit, tell shop owners how beautiful their merchandise is, smiled widely and genuinely.
Make a point to be kind to warm and generous people.
And every time you are shown kindness, no matter how small, feel immeasurably grateful.
The unkind are giving you a great gift.
They remind us that we all have a choice to be kind, and we are presented with that choice many times a day.
Say a kind word to someone you don’t know.
It doesn’t have to be an eloquent address —a simple compliment can make someone’s day.
If you like a man’s shirt or a woman’s necklace, tell them so.
And if you are struck by someone’s warm personality or spirit, thank them for it.
Write a note to someone you appreciate.
Tell a co-worker, family member, or friend what you appreciate about them.
Don’t hold back.
These are the sorts of gifts people treasure, often keeping that little slip of paper or email for many years to come.
We’ve all committed failures of kindness when we are hurt, angry, or tired.
But each of us holds within us the power to achieve triumphs of kindness every day.

J.