Kindness’ Ripple Effect
An act of kindness can have a great profound impact on someone’s life. Like a water drop in a pond, it starts off as something small, then spreads outward. Kindness is a quiet hum of empathy that allows us to acknowledge another’s vulnerability and flaws. It’s not always something grand, it could be a simple smile or compliment. Opening our hearts is what makes being human so unique and special. So I’m going to write a story on how the kindness of another person saved me.
Growing up my parents always taught me to be kind and considerate of others. I’ve been alive for 17 years and still never really understood why until recently. Despite the fact that I never really understood the concept of kindness, I believed that I still tried my best to be kind, or so I thought. Society has taught me many things, two of the biggest things are having the need to harden your heart to avoid being hurt by the World’s cruelty, and to answer “yes” when someone asks if you’re okay because people with flaws and struggles will only create another burden someone doesn’t need. Those things influenced me into being selective towards who I share my consideration with.
My greatest example is my story that came from growing in soccer. I was always around soccer, and because of that I knew a fair amount of people, especially other athletes my age. Even though I had my own personal battles I believed that I was set, constantly telling myself I couldn’t complain about the state I was in because if I had my sport and friends that was all I needed. That led me to becoming a more selfish person, I picked and chose who I wanted to be friends with. Not because I wanted to surround myself with people who would uplift me, but because I wanted to gain the title of popularity. I never really realized how quiet the voices of someone who’s hurting could be until I experienced it myself. I was around the ages of 8-10, and vividly remember another girl who was in my soccer team for a year who no one really wanted to be close to. For that reason, I distanced myself from her.
After a while I suffered from the same situation she did. Suffering from public humiliation, I noticed how everyone started to drift away from me. I felt alone, with a huge weight of grief on my shoulders. Going to practice didn’t bring me the same joy or excitement it once did. My one teammate who no one wanted to be around with, was the only one who didn’t treat me any differently despite all personal state or flaws. When it was time for me to move cities because of my personal issues, I was hugged by the one person I judged the most. That one act of kindness changed my whole perspective. I haven't forgotten her empathy since, especially now with the mental state that I’m in. I do my best to spread whatever joy and kindness I have within. So why be kind? Well you never know who might be grieving, exhausted, or barely holding. Your kindness is the only softness someone might feel today. A smile, hug, compliment, an open ear, is all it takes to change someone’s life or entire perspective.
