I’ve had my share of regrets in life. Being human includes regrets that run the spectrum regarding impact and consequences. Recently, I was thinking about regrets. Our kids are growing up fast, and their decisions often carry more weight than before. As I ponder how to balance freedom of choice and oversight for them, I couldn’t help but realize something. I have regrets in my life, but I’ve never had the regret of being kind.
It has to mean something, doesn’t it? It must be relevant that in some forty (and some change) years of life spent making decisions and choosing my actions, I have never regretted being kind. How can we help raise kids who may have regrets in their life (are you really living if you don’t?) but never regret being kind? How much could we improve mental health, feelings of loneliness, and so much more by instilling in our kids how to be kind?
Kindness doesn’t always get likes or clicks. It very rarely goes viral. Kindness is often subtle and subdued. It is not done for attention. Kindness is acting or speaking in a way that lets another individual know that you value them. Kindness acknowledges the intrinsic worth of another in how you interact with them. Kindness affords someone the same respect you hope to receive as well.
As we mark the transition from one year to another, I find myself worried. It feels that, once again, we are leaving a year behind heavy with angst and rage and tepidly peering towards the emerging year on the horizon. It feels as though the year ahead will hold a lot of tension and unpredictability. I hope that no matter what this year brings, I can help my kids learn what I have found to be true- they can have regrets in life, but they will never have the regret of being kind.