When did it become acceptable to be mean and not kind? In my world it is NOT acceptable but I have seen it time and time again and it is eating at me.
Comments about a performer ‘s stomach.
Comments about an outfit that someone wears to an event.
Comments about someone’s political views or associations.
Comments about someone’s core beliefs or religion.
They are all floating around out there in our world right now and it sickens me.
Many times I have noticed that it is the same people who are saying or writing these things who are advocates for embracing individuality. These are the people who have been up in arms about the mistreatment of some of the marginalized groups in our society.
But yet–they find themselves criticizing and yes at times ridiculing others. It does not add up to me.
I realize that emotions are running especially high in our country right now. I get it. But does it mean that we are allowed to be mean and hateful?
Absolutely not.
I find myself really checking what I am saying, what I am writing and what I am projecting because I do not want to be one of “those” people. Have I been guilty of some of these behaviors ? Absolutely yes. But now is the time to change.
I often “preach” about being the change, being the ripple of kindness that promotes goodness and light and now is the time to amp up that campaign and do just that.
So today and every day I will choose to take the high road.
I choose to reach out in kindness in some small way.
The ripple begins with me. 
25 Comments
Leave a commentWonderful reminder.
We ALL need to be reminded. Me as well. Thanks for stopping by.
We can all stand to be a little kinder.
I believe it all began with the “Time Out” generation of parenting! Not being held responsible for our actions and merely being sent to a private “sanctuary” filled with computers, video games and other varied forms of escapes from whatever it was that got us in “trouble” would have required a bit more of a punitive reaction before this generational “pampering” began. You would or at least I would have thought, that the people of the “everyone is special and everyone gets a trophy generation” could have figured that out by now. If everyone is indeed “special” then why are they not being treated with compassion and fairness? Pampering of the child does not lead to compassion for others, but only for the pampered themselves!
I think I hit a nerve with you here, Jake. 🙂 I know what you are writing about–it does seem as if so many feel entitled and that the rules do not apply to them. I don’t really know the answer but I do know that we all just need to practice a little kindness.
I whole-heartedly agree with both of you.
I’ve noticed that a lot of people today don’t really look around to see if there may be others who just might be inhabiting this world along with them. And what that says to me is, “I’m all that matters” and that which is in my own self-interest. That infuriates me. SELFISHNESS seems to be a very common condition now and it is not the way it used to be.. Boy am I sounding a lot like an old-timer now..
I, too, seem to be always on guard about what I say right now…. it’s like we’re all tip-toeing around to be careful not to say the wrong thing.
You are the kindest person I have met on line. May we all try to be like you. I do hope this meanness dies down soon. I for one can’t stand it.
Well said! Er ah, typed. Can’t we all just get a bong… I mean, get along! LOL Thanks Beth, your positive outlook is appreciated! 🙂
🙂 Totally made me giggle.
Amen!
🙂 It’s pretty simple, right?
Hear, hear!
Hi Marky! Miss you!
Hear, hear! (Ditt0!)
You agreed with my brother. 🙂
I completely agree with you Beth Ann. We are all capable of being unkind at times, but it is just not acceptable. As my mum used to say, “If you can’t say something kind don’t say anything at all” that is a good motto for all of us.
Absolutely—I have really started to be more vigilant in watching what I say or write. You never know how it might be taken and I hate hurting people!
Some people can’t think of a kinder (and funnier) wisecrack, so they just post a nasty one…
I think you are correct. Sometimes silence is golden.
Well said! Thank you, Beth Ann.
I think social media has changed the way people comment….they can do it so anonymously now. Plus now days we hear so much more from people, people we’d never hear from before…so we hear lots more stupid and hurtful things that might have been said privately before. Now it’s all public. I think it’s made us all less than we can be, unless we’re careful.
I think you are exactly correct in what you write, Dawn. The anonymous nature make folks think it is okay but it isn’t. We do have to be careful at all times with what we say and write.
Amen and Amen, I could not agree with you more!! And especially when I see comments on the web that are so hurtful and hateful — like you actually took the time to type that out to another human being? Really?! It’s not hard to be kind. I wish we could all love on one another better.