All the negativity in the news combined with the personal demons most of us struggle with, along with the toxic, negative people we interact with professionally and personally on a day-to-day basis, it's enough to find yourself in a mental coma. I know I am not alone. Family, friends, colleagues, associates and friends of friends are all going through something bad. It's Christmas time, and there's even a war on celebrating Christmas. Starbucks can't print a snowflake on their red cups without outrage, and Christmas Spectacular nativity plays are banned because it's Christmas Spectacular, not a time to celebrate Christ but a time for celebrating flashing colored lights, sequence and sparkles, singing and dancing, but only as long as it's non-religious. Wait, shouldn't it be called Holiday Spectacular?
I heard the greatest quote over Thanksgiving when discussing people's dysfunction:
"Un-f#@%ing your sh!$." Not to be taken in a dismissive manner, but a goal to wake up and take a cold, hard, reality testing look in the mirror of self-reflection. It's actually endearing and I take that on to recognize that maybe, just maybe, I might need to lighten up and show some kindness.
Ironically, as I sit here typing this Marvin Gaye is singing "What's Going On" on Music Choice television. Sing it Marvin, because apparently, people have needed to un-f#@% their sh!$ in every era. In moments of all the heavy toxicity, how does one even begin to feel any joy and peace not only in this holiday season, but in life?
I have been seeing a lot of 'Kindness' hashtags, posters and quotes all over Facebook and Twitter, and as much as kindness doesn't necessarily solve the problems and horrors witnessed, it does help ease the hurt and make life a little more pleasurable. Kindness is a word that can make a huge impact in the smallest implications. A smile alone can be contagious. And with kindness, trust comes into part. Trusting that good does exist: that someone actually does care and empathizes. Too often we are hurried along, distracted on our phones, preoccupied in our judgments and offensiveness, and oblivious to our surroundings and those nearby. I challenge you to un-f#@% your sh!$ and start showing acts of kindness. I am taking this challenge on; practicing kindness to all those I encounter from the Starbucks barista: why yes, I'll take a tall dark in a red cup with a snowflake, to being kind to the a$$hole in your office, and actually meaning it, to being kind on the road and letting the car trying to get onto the highway, in.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.