During a recent conversation with a friend over tea, she
noted with compassion that a colleague in the nonprofit sector had gone through
a period where she was “not very nimble or kind.” We went on to muse about the
importance of those two qualities, probably always but especially in these
times of the evolving “new normal” of tight budgets in the nonprofit world.
That conversation stuck with me, and I have been thinking since then of
kindness and why it is necessary.
In one of my favorite songs, “Hands” by Jewel, the
songwriter advises that “in the end only kindness matters.” If it’s true that
all of our thoughts actions are measured in the end by kindness then it seems
an important and necessary ingredient of daily living.
There’s something essential about kindness as an expression
of the golden rule. I
know I prefer kindness from myself and others as compared to say, anger or
meanness. Kindness creates openings and possibilities for friendship, sharing,
more kindness. We speak well of the kindness of strangers when it happens, and
celebrate the ripple effect of “random acts of kindness.” By comparison, anger
and meanness close doors, shut down conversations, or escalate into more
negative expressions.
Continuing this thread of thought led me to realize that kindness
is at the root of successful fundraising. Philanthropy, or “goodwill towards
fellow human beings,” is predicated on kindness as a generative ingredient. By
inspiring people to give money and time to a cause, we fundraisers are tickling
the kindness bone with our compelling stories and our impressive statistics
about what a difference giving can make.
Kindness then, is a necessary ingredient in everyday living
and as an expression of the best of humanity. Now I am wondering how to develop
a stance of kindness in my life, personally and professionally. More on that in
a future post perhaps.
I leave you with this thought from Tenzin Gyatso, better
known as the current Dalai Lama: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always
possible.”
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