Noticing small moments of kindness

Kindness seems to have become abundant right now.  I'm sure it was there from the start of this Coronavirus outbreak but in my slightly stressed struggling to adapt state I wasn't really noticing it.

In a crisis situation, apparently there is a third reaction that comes after fight/flight response and that is the drive to help others.  And as social creatures, that makes sense.  We rely on each other for our survival.  Great news for all of us and my theme of kindness.

Seeing the video clips of Spanish residents clapping for the health care teams brought tears to my eyes.  In such difficult times, just staying home often doesn't feel like "enough" when the incredible NHS staff plus thousands of others in key worker roles are working flat out.

Yet, the small moments of kindness that the rest of us are doing are making our communities feel like more caring places again.  I've started to really notice them and carry out as many as I can.

A really simple, easy to do practice I've been trying out has been smiling and saying hello out on my daily walk.  Before social distancing I would normally smile, especially on a sunny day by the sea.  Then with the new distancing rules, I found all my energy was being taken up figuring out how to get 2m distance (seriously, on some paths?).  Or feeling grumpy if people weren't moving over at all. 

Maybe we are all slowly adapting to this unfamiliar way of behaving right now.  Most people are now leaving a lovely 2m gap and giving way on paths. I've turned into a Cheshire cat with my smiling and thank yous.  And most people are returning it.    Even at a few metres distance we can still smile.  And it gives just a little boost of feel good hormones.

Even after a few days,  I'm getting my warm feeling back about life at times.  Even though this is so strange right now, I feel connected to my small community by the sea just as strongly as before.

And you know what, I even woke up smiling with the sunshine today.


Comments

  1. UnknownApril 8, 2020 at 7:15 PM

    The community spirit which is now apparent for most of us is so heart warming. Even at a 2 metre distance we can still smile, nod and empathise. This vital body language tells others we care and they are not alone... even if someone has to go back to living alone, that smile will have made their day just a little bit better. I've found myself doing the namaste pray bow to people so much more since all this began and it feels great! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue WalkerApril 9, 2020 at 11:17 AM

      Glad you are noticing this too, as you say that moment can lift someone's spirits for the whole day. Namaste,

      Delete

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