Be Kinder Than Is Necessary

I've been thinking a lot lately about kindness. For many reasons, this has come up in my train of thought many times in the last month or so. I recently finished a book, "Wonder" by RJ Palacio, which is definitely worth the read. It's a YA novel, so it's a quick read, but it's a really great story about a middle-school kid's ability to rise above the negativity in his life and share his own kindnesses wherever he goes. One of my favorite quotes from the book is that we should all "Be Kinder Than Is Necessary." I guess I could say that this is my new mantra. And sometimes, it is difficult to be kind, and even more difficult to be kinder than is necessary.

In case you didn't already know, I am a very sarcastic, sometimes (ok, often) snarky person, and so it's hard for me to just keep it to myself and be kind. But, where is the line between being myself, and trying to be a kinder person? Being kind is different than just being nice. It's not just paying a compliment where one is deserved. It's not just sticking up for the kid who's being bullied. Being kind includes doing all of those things, but it also means going beyond the necessary. But, what does it mean? How can I be a kinder person in my everyday life? How can I help others to see that being kind is worth it, but being mean is not?

What are we all doing to move toward being kinder than is necessary?

Last Saturday, I had both girls with me at Meijer (I know, I'm a bit crazy sometimes, but we needed a few things). We all three were sporting our Purdue gear. I was waiting for my (free) Pumpkin Spice Latte at the Starbucks kiosk when this lady behind me says to Hunter "Oh, do you have your Notre Dame shirt on?" (she could only see that the shirt was gold, as Hunter had a coat on). I laughed and said "No, we're all ready to Boiler Up this afternoon!" The lady then proceeded to tell my daughters that "your mother is stupid, and someday, you'll come around and realize that Notre Dame is the best" (ok, probably not verbatim, but you get the idea). Needless to say, I was more than a little put-off by this very inappropriate display of meanness. I thanked the kind woman at Starbucks (who was more than a little flustered that her register wasn't working), smiled at the mean lady, took my latte and my cart full of babies & groceries, and walked out to my car. I have spent the ensuing four days thinking of snappy, snarky comebacks for this woman. But you know what? Why should I be a bitch too? Just because someone is mean to me (and my kids, might I add), why should I be brought down to her level? I am actually very proud of myself that I set a good example for my girls by turning the other cheek, smiling at her, and walking out of the store without telling her off. I am NOT proud of the fact that I'm still stewing about it. Can't we all just be a little kinder to each other?
*I'd like to add that my kids were sitting very quietly in the cart, entertaining themselves, even after a two-hour playdate at the train museum, being woken up by me to take them IN to the store, and another 1/2 hour in the store.

Seriously. Just be nice.

I'm working on it.