The Indomitable Spirit

There are many definitions of peace, love, and kindness. To my way of thinking, it all comes from the heart. What is it that makes each of us feel these ways?

Peace, coming from the heart, can still be different for each person. I find peace sitting among tall pines. Their scent filling the air. There’s a bit of a wind blowing things around and I can hear the sound of a river or creek nearby as it rushes downhill. But that’s me.

For you, it may be getting lost in a city with noise drowning out the anxieties and pains we feel. Cars and trucks rush by as you walk being careful not to get hit in the road! Perhaps stopping for lunch or a snack. You can see an outdoor market nearby so you decide to meander through the aisles, inhaling the scents and colors of fresh vegetables, foods, and other vendors wares.

No matter how you feel it, it’s there. It comes from your heart and touches your soul.

Love is the same, so to speak. It’s different for each of us. But it always starts at the heart and touches the soul. This is important to understand. Love itself is a verb; an action word. We love a partner, a child, a friend, a neighbor. But where do we take it from there? How do these people know that we love them? It can’t be just saying the words, although it’s good to say, or you could end up making someone feel rejected. But saying the words WITHOUT the actions to back it up, is meaningless.

Example, we tell a child we love them, but then ignore them. We play no part in their lives. We tell a pet we love them, but forget to feed them, leave them alone for days without any human interaction. We tell our partner we love them and then abuse them.

Healthy examples. We help that same child with homework, play games with them, encourage them, teach them life skills they’ll need, etc. Never give any form of neglect to any loved one.

What about your neighbor? What would you do if your neighbor was in trouble? If their home was being broken into or tragedy struck? I’m betting you’d either call emergency services or help out in whatever way you could.

This leads to kindness. Kindness touches your heart and reverberates from your heart and soul. It reverberates and bounces like grains of salt on a beating drum. It’s a series of hit and runs into love, to giving, and then to a very special feeling of peace. This is how we feel when we give that kindness to those we care about and love.

Kindness is given in smiles, hugs, encouragement, giving what is needed to those we love. It would be the examples of showing the love that was mentioned.

But what about people we don’t know? If we say we love them, do we now feel like we have to do something if they’re in trouble? When we hear of people in trouble in hospitals, we feel moved and find some way to support them. A healthcare provider during these pandemic days can be shown they are thought about by showing support through a minimal of social media.

What about those we know are in trouble, but there isn’t any advertisement for? A family on the street, the hungry child or parent trying to care for their family? What about someone that needs medication that they can’t afford; and their life will suffer from its loss? How can we show kindness there?

I definitely don’t have all the answers. But I do believe that if we work together in kindness, we can find the answers. What do you think?