Regarding Sweet Greg: S2 asked, “Is he that way because his parents are like that?” Greg’s kindness gave me the perfect segue into expanding on my own family experience. Any excuse will do. I shared how growing up in the intense harshness of my childhood home left me with no understanding of authentic kindness or gentleness. I still marvel at kind, respectful, gentle‑natured people.
Intentional, undiscriminating kindness is rare, and I work daily to bring it into our focus and existence. Kindness lives in the small things we say and do (or don’t). Before recovery, I believed kindness was reserved for the “worthy.” In recovery, I’ve learned we are each worthy of kindness and connection — even at our worst. Kindness is always the answer, and it has nothing to do with tolerating abuse or being friendly or flattering.
“There is nobody on earth more important than you… and there is nobody less important than you.” I repeat this to my children and to myself.
Kindness fosters safety and connection. Acts of authentic kindness serve God, peace, and serenity — not impression or personal gain. Kindness is its own reward. It’s what the world needs more of. Kindness, I will do. Not perfectly — I’m a work in progress. My boys and I model ourselves after those who live kindness as a way of life — the real badasses.
Kindness is never divisive and is always for paying forward. I’m finally okay with the fact that “friendly” isn’t in my wiring, and that’s not a defect. I help others when it’s safe and possible. I choose kindness for people I have no interest in socializing with.
