Kindness Matters!!!

A friend of mine who is waiting for a heart transplant posted this on his blog yesterday. I think it needs to be read by everyone within eye shot so I asked him if I could post it on my blog. Here is what he said.

“I was raised to exist in a world where people are people and monsters were myth. Where neighbors were like family and family was (and still is) the strongest bond. Where doing your job was important and above and beyond was the norm. Fair was more than a term in baseball, rules were NOT meant to be broken, charity was in the hearts of all and we helped one another because we should. I know, I was sheltered and privileged and was protected from the evils of the real world, right? WRONG! It is not a given that politicians must lie, cheat and steal their way to the grave. It is NOT only cheating if you get caught. It is NOT a foul only if it causes harm and doing the right thing is STILL the right thing to do. Apathy has led us to this place of fence-building, dog-eat-dog, outta my way and kill or be killed. We have the power to make a change. I am not suggesting that we can cure all ills of society today or even next week but the direction needs to change. NOT MY PROBLEM was a catch-phrase in the late '70s, not a new way to live. If you pull away from the picture far enough, you will see that we are all together in this. Let's start a good virus, one that spreads more rapidly than swine flu and lasts much longer. A "disease" that we all should be infected with. The symptoms are generosity, empathy, courtesy and kindness. That doesn't mean take care of others before yourself but remember others are there. You are not the only one driving, shopping, looking for a parking place, working hard, paying taxes, raising children or donating your time just to name a few. We are in this together and we need to SEE each other. Don't take "it is what it is" for an answer!! Kindness matters!!! Help that neighbor with their garbage cans, help the woman in front of you at Starbucks as she struggles with 3 cups, a briefcase and the newspaper and do it because you can, not because they can do something for you in return. The gift is in the giving. I know-the world is too far gone, people are too litigious, you'll be labeled a masher and that woman in front of you is a jerk, right? Well we are only here by our own actions or inactions and we can only get out the same way. Plant a seed of kindness and help the world grow."

“Be good to each other!! (or so help me...)”

I have nothing to add. He said it all. BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Oh, but I do have one thing to add. If you are not on the organ donor registry list, please click on the button to the left (there is also one at the top of my sidebar). They have all the information you will need to answer any questions or concerns you may have. No one is too young (my donor had been registered since she was 15), no one is too old and no one is too sick to save the life or eyesight of others. My donor saved the lives of seventeen people! Thanks for taking the time to read this.