What does it mean to be kind? Is it a smile? A high five? Opening the door for someone? Or just living by the "Golden Rule"? I am still trying to wrap my mind around it today. I have dealt with several issues revolving around students being ugly to one another, just mean behaviors that can easily be fixed or eliminated. Being mean is something that has gone on for generations, but that does NOT make it acceptable or something that we want to continue. To write this post, I had to dig deep, open old wounds, and take a hard look in the mirror.
I had to take a journey back to when I was their age to really try and find a solution to this ongoing problem in our schools, our community, and society as a whole.
As I reflected back to my high school days, I am reminded about a time in my life that I was not as kind as I should have been. When faced with situations that I had a choice to be kind or mean, I chose to be mean. Maybe because I wanted to seem "cool" or to fit it, but I know that I didn't always choose to be KIND. I was a jerk!
If I took a survey or polled my fellow classmates that I attended school with I am sure that I would cringe at the results. I would honestly hate to hear what they thought of me at that time in my life. I may have actually been considered a "mean girl." It really makes me sad to think that I made other people feel less than awesome and didn't take time to just be kind to them. Why did I think it was acceptable to be rude?
I often told my students in my classes that they wouldn't have liked the person that I was in high school. I didn't act or behave how I was raised. My parents and my entire family believed in kindness and acceptance. They taught me right from wrong and not to be mean or cruel. Although I knew all of these core values, I would still chose to be ugly and unkind.
If there is anything I could go back and change now looking back, it would be how I treated others growing up. I would also apologize to my mother (she is a saint) for my smart mouth and ALL of the other things that I put my parents through. I would apologize to the neighborhood kids that we didn't allow on our teams or always picked last, the girls that we called on "three way" to make them talk bad about others, the nicknames that we called people, the pranks that we pulled, the terrible rumors that I spread, the girls we wouldn't allow to sit at our lunch table, the people we didn't invite to our parties, the boys that I kissed that had girlfriends, and the other countless inconsiderate things I did to KIND and innocent people. Sounds really bad doesn't it...I know, I lived it and created it!!!!
I know that I said that I would take it back, but I honestly don't think that I would. I can't change what I said or did, but I can help change and inspire the current and future youth of our world. I can relate to the "meanies" but I can also empathize with the victims, which were my students for years. I know what it is like to make bad decisions and maybe it is my job to help counteract it at a greater level. Maybe I was supposed to be mean, to help save students from making the same mistakes and regrets that I made? Whatever the reason, it is not a excuse. My past behaviors are scars that I have to work through and deal with as an educator and as an adult. They are my choices and I choose to forgive myself and dedicate my life to helping others, paying it forward, and being KIND every single day.
I guess my hope is that I can change the world through the simple concept of KINDNESS? I do think it is possible!!!! I think when I started the KINDNESS campaign, "#CTKindness" it was my way of giving back and asking for forgiveness. If I can promote KINDNESS to our young people maybe it will change the current culture of our school, community, and the world.
My best advice for ALL people, not just our young people, would be, " BE KIND TO EVERY CREATURE THAT YOU MEET"
P.S. The person that said, "sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt me", is full of crap (pardon my french)!
Choose your words carefully, because you never know who is listening or what the person is going through in their life.
Finally,
BE KIND
BE KIND
BE KIND
As always, I am humbled by the people that take time to read my thoughts:)
Peace out girl scout,
Leigh
