If You Can Be Anything, Be Kind

“If you can be anything, be kind.” I stumbled onto this quote awhile back, but it’s a string of words that have continuously stayed with me and are stuck in my head like a song on repeat. They are powerful little words that challenge us to live with a greater meaning.

In a world full of anger and hatred, and violence at every corner of the street, kindness is a rare-but-refreshing source of happiness to be found. In a world that focuses primarily on being successful, intelligent, beautiful, rich and famous, kindness is a priceless gem so easily forgotten. Society tells us to focus only on ourselves, but kindness is a virtue that helps us to be selfless like Christ.

Be kind to others – Reach out so someone who is going through a difficult time. Write a random letter of appreciation to someone who has positively influenced you. Give someone your undivided attention. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or nursing home. Give honest compliments to people you pass by. Remind your friends and family how much you love them. Ask someone how their day was and truly listen. Make someone laugh.

Be kind to the earth – Pick up any trash you see. Be less wasteful about the things you have. Plant a tree, a flower, a vegetable or a fruit. Take a shorter shower. Donate money to save the rainforests. Finish all the food on your plate. Recycle as much as you can. Take a moment to stand outside and look around you and embrace the beauty of the world you live in. Allow yourself to be in awe of how the world was so intricately created.

Be kind to God – Write Him a letter telling Him how thankful you are for what you’ve been given. Spend extra time throughout the day speaking to Him. Count your blessings. Give Him praise even during the difficult moments. Say your prayers even when you don’t feel like it. Spend time listening to Him in adoration. Don’t take a single breath for granted. Tell Him how happy you are to be alive. Train yourself to find the blessing in everything.

Be kind to yourself – Do one kind thing for yourself every week. Enjoy something you love or do something you enjoy but don’t usually have time for. Be patient with yourself when you don’t get as much work done. Do what’s best for you. Think positively about yourself and where you’re at in life and your goals. Say I love you in the mirror. Be your biggest source of encouragement and be your own cheerleader. Be gentle with yourself when you don’t do as well as you expect. Forgive yourself.

The people who need love the most are those who are difficult to love. Challenge yourself to reach out to others, and give them the unconditional love and kindness of Christ. Sometimes the most challenging person for us to love is ourselves. Train your heart to treat yourself and others with utmost kindness, and your life will change.

St. Mother Teresa challenges us: “Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” Let our lives be a living inspiration and source of hope to everyone we meet. Even little acts of kindness have the strength to comfort a soul in ways we never could have imagined. In a rough world full of pain and destruction, let us be the gentleness so many hearts are aching to experience. “Kindness is a wonderful way to let another struggling soul know that there is still love in this world.”