Ripples #702: Vote for Kindness.

Ripples #702: Vote for Kindness.
For our tribe of 31,918 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
11/06/2012

PEBBLE:
The work an unknown good man has done
is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground,
secretly making the ground green.
-Thomas Carlyle, Submitted by Kelley in Chester, IL

BOULDER:
Kindness is an inner desire
that makes us want to do good things
even if we do not get anything in return.
It is the joy of our life to do them.
When we do good things from this inner desire,
there is kindness in everything we think,
say, want and do.
-Emmanuel Swedenborg

PONDER:
As usual, it has been a brutal few months as we've endured lots of angry "this candidate is awful" and fearful "horrible things are in store if you make the wrong choice." Add the economic challenges that many of us still face and the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and things have been poopy to say the least.

I'm hopeful that we can wake up Wednesday morning and find the courage and wisdom to be gracious and compassionate whether we are happy with the election results or not. There is always room for kindness in our world, and we desperately need to figure out how to move into a more cooperative, civil discourse. It might be useful to start by extending olive branches with small polite gestures, conversation topics that allow us to all be on the same side, and any other kindness that can draw out the best in ourselves and others.

I'm ready to try. Are you?

Peace,
Paul