My family have adopted the #JustBeKind motto. Because Kindness Matters! Okay okay, it’s an enforced motto. But that’s because it is something I, the ruler of my family’s moral code, think is a very important topic. And I’m not taking. “No” or “huh? for an answer. 

just be kind because kindness matters

What Happened?

I guess you want to know what ticked me off. Because clearly there was something. Or maybe a few things. But yes, there were something. A few months ago I made a typo on a public forum!

*Gasp*

I know, right?! Me!

Actually I typed 2018 instead of 2019! So, in my defence, it was just an error. I mean, it was December 2018, and I was trying to put an ad out for 2019, but I simply made a mistake. However, what happened next is what really upset me.

Instead of a stranger quietly and privately pointing out the error I had made, he chose to mock me on a public forum. A Facebook group.

I was mortified. I can take constructive criticism … fairly well, but as someone who always did as they were told, and did fairly well, criticism is hard to swallow. MOCKING. IS. MORTIFYING!

How Did I Deal With It?

Well, as a mature adult, I obviously stood up for myself, editing the post, and told the bully boy to ‘jog on’! Right?

Wrong!

I immediately deleted the post and sat in my car with my cheeks flushed red, like an adolescent child who just tripped in front of the whole school!

In a blind humiliated panic, I then removed myself from that group and all other associated groups. It still haunts me. And because I’m still embarrassed about it I won’t rejoin the groups so I have no idea when the bin collection days are, or when the village library is open!

So What’s The Point?

Clearly I have some issues when it comes to standing up for myself. Yes, Yes! My mother’s been trying to ‘grow me a backbone’ for the past 38 years! It’s getting there! Never rush a good job!

But, that said, the whole point of this post is not me, or my self-esteem issues. It’s the fact that some total stranger chose to mock me, in public, instead of politely pointing out my error, and helping me to fix my mistake.

To me, this throws me right back to 4th grade when mean kids would mock me for getting 8/10 on the spelling quiz, or for tripping over the hurdles! p.s. Dumbest sport ever, unless your future aspirations are a burglar or a police officer!

Again … what’s my point!

My point is, Just Be Kind!

No one intentionally makes a typo or spelling mistake! And I promise you, no one tries to fall down at hurdles! I promise you too, that NO ONE plans to wear mismatched socks or shoes for that matter.

The point is, just be kind.

Here are 10 reasons to be kind, and basically it’s about being a decent human being.

If you can’t ignore whatever it is that’s bugging you, then at least give the other person a kind, PRIVATE, head’s up! Because kindness matters. It really does. Not only will being kind spare someone of cruel bullying and mocking, but it will actually make you feel better about yourself as a person than if you went the other way and mocked and belittled that innocent person instead. I promise you, you will. Because at the end of the day, mocking makes you the bully!

So, the next time you think about mocking someone, think twice, and bite your tongue!

Seriously! Just Be Kind!

Kindness costs you nothing! Mocking makes you help yourself feel special, but the person you’re mocking is not enjoying life in that moment. They really are not.

*Donning My Mom Hat*

We try to teach our kids to be kind. But as with everything they learn by example!

The boy who watches his dad make racist remarks about an opposing football team player does the same thing in his next footy match!

The girl who watches their mom laugh at the old lady who tripped over a crack in the pavement will laugh at the girl at school who fell on her way into assembly.

The kid who overhears their parents mock the overweight kid in the fast-food outlet goes on to mock the larger kids in the school lunchroom!

Think Before You Type!

For goodness sake! Think before you speak or type!

And above all, Just Be Kind! It costs nothing! Simply just always be kind. Why not? Kindness matters. Kindness costs nothing! Kindness matters!

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