My friend asked a question...

[yinepus_brat]

A dear friend posted a question on her lj, asking a simple question. One that has had me perplexed for two days now, trying to come up with the answer. Her question was about kindness. A single kind act, one of the kindest I'd ever witnessed. Or if not the act, then someone kind that I know.

And I'm stumped. Why? Because I'm not sure how to classify it. And when I think about it, my mind goes suddenly blank. Kindness as to when my roomie Becky found a hurt squirrel and brought it home and helped it heal rather than to walk on by and let nature take it's course?

Kindness as in Coll rescuing my from my ex, inviting me to live with her last year and getting me out of a wicked bad situation?

Kindness as in watching someone in a busy ER take a few extra minutes and hold an old man's hand An old man who had the shakes and was hallucinating. But they held his hand so that he knew there was something real in the midst of all the madness, just to help him hang on a little longer until the medication started working?

Kindness as in running out of oil and out of nowhere suddenly having friends drop off a trailer full of wood to burn in the woodstove so you and your roomates wouldn't freeze in the middle of winter?

I've seen it, witnessed it done a million times in a million ways, both large and small. And yet trying to focus on a single time, or the single solitary most kind act ever witnessed? I can't seem to do it.

Strange, huh? Ebonbird, hon. I'm still trying, honest I am.

Comments

Hugs

[talia-dechoros.livejournal.com]

The most kindest act in my opinion has become the most ordinary... for it is done selflessly, done with love, and takes no second thought at all. Giving time... the most expensive thing in this world. It takes time to give birth to a child and raise it to be good. It takes time to sit and listen to someone confused, lonely or upset. It takes time to give that little extra attention, helping hand, shoulder to cry on. Yes it is a wide berth I give it but it is the most valuable thing to me is when someone takes the time to jsut be with me. (wether it is in their thoughts, on the phone, net, or in person....)

Re: Hugs

[ursa-mater.livejournal.com]

See? I'm not sure I would have even thought of that. And it's so logical too. I have noticed that people who are kind often don't realize that they are doing it. It's just 'what they do' and it's not a big deal. Similar to the man who knocks on the door to a neighbors house and helps rescue the family inside from a fire. To him, he's not a hero. It's 'just what he does', or just 'the right thing to do.'

[termofart.livejournal.com]

What's stumping you here may be that you know many kind people. Also, the kind act you witnessed in the ER is the type of thing that soooo many people never even would have noticed.

You are lucky to be around kind people, and YOU are kind enough to notice when others are being kind.

That would make it harder to narrow things down, I think.

[ursa-mater.livejournal.com]

I am around a lot of very kind people. A lot who don't even realize when they are doing it, it's just part of who they are.

Must think more about this.

[greendalek.livejournal.com]

I think this qualifies as kindness:

Helping an idiot who'd fallen off an icy roof by immediately taking charge of the situation, providing first aid and warmth where needed, calming down the panickers, briefing the EMT-ers, and in all ways just making the whole damned thing as smooth and efficient as possible under the circumstances.

[kittytoys.livejournal.com]

The real kindness was not laughing her ass off afterwards. Or maybe she did?

[ursa-mater.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't laugh. He was too owey and too not happy. Laughing would have made it worse I think. Occasionally I'll joke with him over it though - if he brings it up first. *g*

[ursa-mater.livejournal.com]

See? I don't see that as being kind though. I simply see it as doing what I've been taught. Doing my job, so to speak. You know? *stumped*

[jessierarr.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's strange. Sometimes, to a lot of people, being kind to others is what comes naturally to them and it is THESE people who keep my faith in the human race. I'm one of those people who believe if you can do something for another person -- why not do it? Unfortunately, I've spent too much time watching other people trying to destroy eachothers' lives -- so when I see someone do something for another, it's a little more noticeable for me.

I can see why you're stumped ... because really, there's too many things and even the most SIMPLEST acts of kindness in our eyes could be the most wonderful for another person. It is hard to try and look at one.