Acts of Kindness

Happy Monday. I hope you are all doing well. The holiday season can be frenetic and hectic yet within the joy of the season there is the chance to carve out space for simple kindnesses. 

Last week I was playing tennis of all things and a friend who I hadn’t seen in a while walked onto the next court over. When I saw her, smiley and happy as she always is, dressed impeccably in her tennis outfit, I felt compelled to give her a hug. I ran over, gave her a hug and ran back to my court. 

The next evening we saw each other at a happy hour gathering and she pulled me aside. She told me how much that hug meant to her; that she had really had needed a hug that day and somehow I knew. She was very grateful. Sometimes those small gestures really have an impact and we can be more sensitive to others who need kindness by also cultivating kindness for ourselves. 

This is what I shared with students this week, the ideas that we have more to give others when we give equally to ourselves and that small acts of kindness really matter. The time on our mats can be used for just that; softening the judgment and expectation we have for ourselves and practicing acceptance allows us to cultivate that self kindness. From there, we have more to offer others. 

I also shared this quote by Helen Keller; “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched… but are felt in the heart.”  I wish you all a week filled with giving and receiving kindness and a warmth in your heart.