The time has come for recognizing your awareness of the past. The past relates to the present and future in ways we do not always anticipate. The realization that the past does not need define us come as we awaken our minds. The past does influence our decisions and judgements. Know that our paths does not rely on the past.
As we open our hearts and awareness to the wonderment of the aging process, we realize that time passes slowly and yet one day, we wake up to find ourselves a much older person. How does time fly like that? We can feel assured that our time was well spent when we focus our attention to the love we receive and send to others.
How often do we answer questions with little regard to the other’s feelings? Gosh. When we look back, we realize that we didn’t need to be so cruel. Judging ourselves and others is often the cause.
When we feel low about ourselves, we pass it on to those around us. In our effort to feel better, we treat others as less than worthy. Feeling worthy relates to our self-esteem. When we can feel good about ourselves, we no longer feel the need to put others down.
Just like the lioness feeds her cubs, we provide those around us with nourishment that we desperately need: kindness. To be kind seems simple enough. Is it really?
Being kind means being aware to another’s emotional needs and tending to those needs. Kindness also implies that we are aware of our own emotional well being.
How do you feel today? Did you feel the need to share your negative emotions with others? Were you able to listen to your colleague, spouse or family member rant and now they feel better?
Awareness to how you feel as well as those around you takes a form of well-being that many do not have. We wish to be grounded enough to not take on someone else’s feelings, and yet aware enough to our own needs. How often do we fear losing a friendship by our desires to be honest? Our friends enjoy our company, especially when times are good. When we are going through tough times, we feel challenged to listen and understand their needs. How often do we want to provide solutions to another’s problems? Then we tire of listening when they do not accept our solutions!
Love means to listen with open-minds and hearts. Listening, really, to listen does not mean providing solutions. Listening is just that. Too often we say, “If I were you, I’d… (fill in the blank).” I’d walk away, I’d buy another. When your friend is ready to make a decision, they will. Until then, we can offer our gift of listening. Listening leads to understanding which is a act of kindness.
As we get older, will we consider our past filled with unanswered prayers? One hopes that a life filled with extending kindness to others. Anytime we have gone out of our way for someone, whether it’s listening, cooking a meal, calling a friend you haven’t heard from in a while, helping someone who is struggling. These acts of kindness encourages more of us to feel better about ourselves and each other.
