M is for Misfit
Friday, November 13, 2009
Birthday Wish
Time: November 13, 2009 12:24 AM
Scene: A girl sits in her dark apartment in the ghetto, typing up a prepared note that she will not have to worry about trying to type up tomorrow and does this all in her pjs while having her entire iTunes on shuffle
I have been 24 years old for 24 minutes. How do I feel? About the same as I did when I was 23, a whole hour and 24 minutes ago except at the moment I feel even more opinionated and am in the mood for a really longwinded post. Prepare thyself! Anyway, today is a very important, special day. No, not because it’s the day I was born though that pretty much rocks, I’m not going to lie. Today is also worldwide holiday that most of you may not know about. Heck I didn’t know about it until last week. Allow me to educate you.
Today, November the 13th, is World Kindness Day. I am both very honored and humbled to share the day of my birth with this holiday, because frankly I am a firm believer in the power of kindness and try my best to practice it as much as I can, but of course I‘m bound to fail in some areas because I am in fact human. But one should always keep trying! I do not believe in perfection, but I do believe in improvement! Apparently I also believe in rambling. Ahem. Kindness is something that I think is not necessarily scarce in today’s world as much as it is misplaced. Example, it’s all well and good to donate to or give support to a cause to save the rainforest/stop abuse of animals/etc. but what about your attitude towards those around you? I love animals and I love nature, but don’t you think it’s sad that the word “kindness” is often confused with the word “charity?” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with charities, I just think we should stop and think about what kindness really is.
I have a lot of friends, some close and some far away, that are hurting for several reasons right now: sadness, frustration, loneliness, misunderstandings, disappointments, and other not-so-good feelings or situations. On one hand, I have to admit that all those things are just a part of life but on the other hand, it breaks my heart, because honestly we can’t blame “life” for everything. Sometimes, life hurts because we hurt each other. I really wish kindness was something at the forefront of our minds at all times and while I do believe that suffering is an essential part of life, maybe if there was more kindness coming from and going to others, suffering wouldn’t actually have to be so unbearable. However, I think there is more than one kind of “kindness” that I’ve experienced in my short 24 years of life:
Number 1: the typical warm-fuzzy kindness that we hear the most about, when we are “nice” to each other and we “love” each other. This can be acted out in several ways, examples being giving presents, saying nice things to/about each other, etcetera. Nothing wrong with it, but it is the most basic level of kindness. It’s very necessary to let people know that we care for them and that they are dear to us because I do believe that all people, personalities and backgrounds aside, have and/or will need at least one person by their side at some point in their lives for whatever reason.
Number 2: a much more rough, maybe even harsh sort of kindness - it’s the “be cruel to be kind” way people interact with each other and sometimes it‘s more necessary than the first type. I’ve bared witness to this action and even used it a couple of times myself: in order to do what’s best for the other person, the first person may/will take extreme action to steer the other in the right direction or even intervene. It doesn’t always work mind you, but we do it anyway. It usually hurts both parties. A LOT. But sometimes it takes more love and respect for a person to be this honest and upfront with them.
Number 3: the self-sacrifice. Depending on the person, this third type is even more painful than the second. The self-sacrifice kindness isn’t always as dramatic as it sounds: it can be acted out in ways that include listening to another person’s problems, giving up your time/energy/money to help another person/thing/whatever, or even taking a hit for someone/standing up for someone/taking the heat/etc. Like I said, to some this is the hardest type because of the whole “self” aspect. Warning: desire itself isn’t bad, giving in to it to the point of obsession and looking focus on what should be important IS bad…
I do not know where everyone is at in their lives today and I absolutely do not expect those around me to bend over backwards for my happiness just because it’s my birthday; however, I do have one request for all my friends and family and anyone who comes across this post today. I wish that you, the person reading this right now, will show some form of kindness to someone today. I’m not asking you to run out and donate money, or buy something nice for someone, I ask only that you take a break from your busy day and give someone what they need today. It could be a hug. It could be words of encouragement. It could be an honest opinion. It could be an apology. It could be forgiving someone. It could be a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. It could even be letting someone/something go. All I ask is that for five minutes, you forget about yourself and think of someone else’s well being and I will do the same. Five minutes is NOT a long time. Heck it probably took you five minutes just to read this note! And as redonkulously cheesy as this is going to sound, I’m saying it anyway because it is truth in advertising: you don’t have to save the planet to feel like a hero in someone’s eyes, all you have to do is make their world a little better. And yes you may facebook quote me.
So…since I decided to be all soap-boxy and whatnot, it’s only fair that I do my part to honor World Kindness Day. I don’t have much money, I’m not always the best face-to-face communicator, and frankly I can be very clumsy and very oblivious at times, but despite all my faults, I like to help other people feel better about themselves, making their days better, or just being there for them. I have a big heart and a love the runs deep even when I’m having a crappy day or not in the best of moods. With that said, if there’s something you need to get off your chest, if you just need someone to make you laugh or tell you a stupid-funny story, or give you a hug, or just someone to hang out with - I will do my best to help you out in anyway I can! It’s what I do. Everyday. No seriously, just ask my friends - if I got money to do this, my loans would be paid off by now lol.
Either way, I look forward to hugging you soon! :3
Misfit
Scene: A girl sits in her dark apartment in the ghetto, typing up a prepared note that she will not have to worry about trying to type up tomorrow and does this all in her pjs while having her entire iTunes on shuffle
I have been 24 years old for 24 minutes. How do I feel? About the same as I did when I was 23, a whole hour and 24 minutes ago except at the moment I feel even more opinionated and am in the mood for a really longwinded post. Prepare thyself! Anyway, today is a very important, special day. No, not because it’s the day I was born though that pretty much rocks, I’m not going to lie. Today is also worldwide holiday that most of you may not know about. Heck I didn’t know about it until last week. Allow me to educate you.
Today, November the 13th, is World Kindness Day. I am both very honored and humbled to share the day of my birth with this holiday, because frankly I am a firm believer in the power of kindness and try my best to practice it as much as I can, but of course I‘m bound to fail in some areas because I am in fact human. But one should always keep trying! I do not believe in perfection, but I do believe in improvement! Apparently I also believe in rambling. Ahem. Kindness is something that I think is not necessarily scarce in today’s world as much as it is misplaced. Example, it’s all well and good to donate to or give support to a cause to save the rainforest/stop abuse of animals/etc. but what about your attitude towards those around you? I love animals and I love nature, but don’t you think it’s sad that the word “kindness” is often confused with the word “charity?” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with charities, I just think we should stop and think about what kindness really is.
I have a lot of friends, some close and some far away, that are hurting for several reasons right now: sadness, frustration, loneliness, misunderstandings, disappointments, and other not-so-good feelings or situations. On one hand, I have to admit that all those things are just a part of life but on the other hand, it breaks my heart, because honestly we can’t blame “life” for everything. Sometimes, life hurts because we hurt each other. I really wish kindness was something at the forefront of our minds at all times and while I do believe that suffering is an essential part of life, maybe if there was more kindness coming from and going to others, suffering wouldn’t actually have to be so unbearable. However, I think there is more than one kind of “kindness” that I’ve experienced in my short 24 years of life:
Number 1: the typical warm-fuzzy kindness that we hear the most about, when we are “nice” to each other and we “love” each other. This can be acted out in several ways, examples being giving presents, saying nice things to/about each other, etcetera. Nothing wrong with it, but it is the most basic level of kindness. It’s very necessary to let people know that we care for them and that they are dear to us because I do believe that all people, personalities and backgrounds aside, have and/or will need at least one person by their side at some point in their lives for whatever reason.
Number 2: a much more rough, maybe even harsh sort of kindness - it’s the “be cruel to be kind” way people interact with each other and sometimes it‘s more necessary than the first type. I’ve bared witness to this action and even used it a couple of times myself: in order to do what’s best for the other person, the first person may/will take extreme action to steer the other in the right direction or even intervene. It doesn’t always work mind you, but we do it anyway. It usually hurts both parties. A LOT. But sometimes it takes more love and respect for a person to be this honest and upfront with them.
Number 3: the self-sacrifice. Depending on the person, this third type is even more painful than the second. The self-sacrifice kindness isn’t always as dramatic as it sounds: it can be acted out in ways that include listening to another person’s problems, giving up your time/energy/money to help another person/thing/whatever, or even taking a hit for someone/standing up for someone/taking the heat/etc. Like I said, to some this is the hardest type because of the whole “self” aspect. Warning: desire itself isn’t bad, giving in to it to the point of obsession and looking focus on what should be important IS bad…
I do not know where everyone is at in their lives today and I absolutely do not expect those around me to bend over backwards for my happiness just because it’s my birthday; however, I do have one request for all my friends and family and anyone who comes across this post today. I wish that you, the person reading this right now, will show some form of kindness to someone today. I’m not asking you to run out and donate money, or buy something nice for someone, I ask only that you take a break from your busy day and give someone what they need today. It could be a hug. It could be words of encouragement. It could be an honest opinion. It could be an apology. It could be forgiving someone. It could be a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. It could even be letting someone/something go. All I ask is that for five minutes, you forget about yourself and think of someone else’s well being and I will do the same. Five minutes is NOT a long time. Heck it probably took you five minutes just to read this note! And as redonkulously cheesy as this is going to sound, I’m saying it anyway because it is truth in advertising: you don’t have to save the planet to feel like a hero in someone’s eyes, all you have to do is make their world a little better. And yes you may facebook quote me.
So…since I decided to be all soap-boxy and whatnot, it’s only fair that I do my part to honor World Kindness Day. I don’t have much money, I’m not always the best face-to-face communicator, and frankly I can be very clumsy and very oblivious at times, but despite all my faults, I like to help other people feel better about themselves, making their days better, or just being there for them. I have a big heart and a love the runs deep even when I’m having a crappy day or not in the best of moods. With that said, if there’s something you need to get off your chest, if you just need someone to make you laugh or tell you a stupid-funny story, or give you a hug, or just someone to hang out with - I will do my best to help you out in anyway I can! It’s what I do. Everyday. No seriously, just ask my friends - if I got money to do this, my loans would be paid off by now lol.
Either way, I look forward to hugging you soon! :3
Misfit
posted by Misfit at 11:12 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home