Key to Success and Happiness
Hello wonderful folks!
Seasoned Earth visitors have much to teach us younger folks. A few years ago, I went to a relative’s wake. After expressing my sympathies to the family and catching up with some cousins, I took a seat next to an older gentleman with thick eyeglasses leaning forward onto his cane. I learned his name was Frank and we were connected through one of my aunts.
I asked Frank to tell me about his life. A proud son of Sicilian immigrants, he spoke glowingly of his parents’ birthplace, painting a picture for me of its beautiful mountains, vistas and architecture. We talked about his business, his children, his grandchildren and a forthcoming book his family had written to celebrate his life.
Understanding the amazing gift of life experience sitting to my left, I leaned over and said, “Frank, what do you believe is the key to success and happiness?”
Without missing a beat, he raised his index, middle and ring fingers and said, “Three things.”
“What are they?” I asked, inching closer to the edge of my folding chair.
“To be kind, to be kind and to be kind.”
His words caused me to pause, to take inventory of my own kindness meter. Was I as kind as I could be? No, I could give away more kindness each day. For whom had I been saving it?
~
Perhaps this holiday season, you could give away kindness as a present. No matter what happens during the festivities, vow to show kindness.
Friends, I’d love to know your experiences showing kindness when it didn’t come easy. Thank you for being such kind & generous commenters! Enjoy your holiday season …
Muse thx, Giulietta
p.s. I originally wrote this for Skirt! Magazine when blogger of the month back in 2008.
p.p.s. Read about my “Secrets of Personal Essay Writing” class at StoryCircle On-line classes.
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I think instinctively we know the key is not fame and fortune or other self-serving pursuits… yet it’s still a lesson we learn over and over again, I think.
Hi Angie,
I so agree that we know in our hearts that those self-serving pursuits don’t bring folks happiness — look at the famous. Their lives seem even more unsettling than the “almost” or “not even close” famous.
Lessons return to us until we learn them!
Thanks you are most kind, G.
That is so true… I have a few lessons that keep circling back around.. 🙂
What wisdom!
Kindness is a pure gift and it is a blessing. Sometimes it surprises me that kindness appears to be difficult for us to give to one another either because we believe it requires time and effort or because our fears get in the way.
Hi TE,
Great point. Why is it so hard for us to be kind to each other? Are we naturally unkind or do we learn it? When I read what people do to each other because they can – I almost can’t believe it. You’re right that it must be some kind of fear.
I appreciate your kind comments! G.
Giulietta, Yes, to be kind or show kindness is key to a happy life yet so few realize it. I think “kindness” is one of the most misinterpreted virtues in the world. Some think that by donating to charities, they are showing kindness to strangers. Others find that donating their time (which is important) is the way to go. But being kind starts with small things such as being helpful, polite, showing appreciation, affection, interest, remembering, and caring about others. It can take the form of a smile to a stranger or not being judgmental about someone else’s appearance or actions. It’s the little ways of being kind that count most and turn life into a fulfilling experience.
Hey Penelope!
I had wanted to open “the kindness company” for awhile. Still think of it. What you’ve written here is a great “how to be kind” guide. Odd that we need one, but really we do. It’s not taught. At least I don’t recall anyone suggesting it to me. And it makes for a less stressful life when you seek to be kind to others.
One of my friends has raised her daughters to be first and foremost Kind! So novel an idea.
When I moved to a new school it sixth grade, I experienced very kind kids and then very unkind kids.
Can you imagine a worldwide kindness Day? Thanks for the kind comment.
g.
Oh, I so agree, that is perfect. Not always easy to do, but a wonderful thing to strive for.
Thank you for stopping by Mrs. Mediocrity! Often, being kind can be difficult – especially with the more difficult folks in our lives. I agree it’s something to strive for. Here’s to a kind 2011! G.