Give me that old timey "Kindness"

Ah, remember those days at the county fair,

days when folks walked around and kids rode on ferris wheels and things that went round and round while others caught up on the news of town, and kindness was seen all over the place?
Corn dogs, hot dogs, bottle of pot and a pack of nabs, while trying to win at games, and spending time with those that just were thrilled at just about everything?

I miss back then.

When people and their laugh would override taxes and times of struggles were shared yet hands joined together to raise monies and to raise cane too, as people stood as one

on fields and in homes of sorrow and good times with kindness and together.

They would bring food to the family of one who was sick, or the home of those who had suffered loss, or even when there was no bad thing, just maybe hard times along with grand times

and sit at the table together in kindness and fellowship.

And oh those county fairs and gathers, even block parties with no threat of gangbangers or violence erupting, times were safer, times were kinder.

People had good times, the music was good, the kids were safer, the laughter was spontaneous

even if times were tough, and the money was tight or someone was out of work or ill.

Those Elders were a part of it all, they were revered, they were pulled up out of wheel chairs and held tightly to enjoy the dance, the music the gathers just as the little ones were.

It was a time of Kindness.

It was a time of knowing that life is precious

and smiles were easier to see.

I miss back then.

Ferris wheels can still be seen, the go round and round, yet the thrill is not the same, the joy is not quite as joyful as back then, as you see folks running from one to the next looking for what is grander, what is better, often forgetting to embrace the what is and who they are with at that very moment.

Kindness is not seen quite so much, as others rush by, seldom speak, and often don't seem to know each other. You don't see as many Elders, the music has changed, the kids are not with the adults as much, yet spend more time worrying about where they are and if they are safe now.

Times always change, people change,

but

kindness is one thing that never has to.

It can if we choose be ingrained, be taught to stay, be insisted on.

Just this week I listened as a Mom told her 12 year old, "we must always say I love you and kiss and hug before you leave for school, we must always do this. God forbid anything should ever happen but we must always start and end our day with a hug and I love you." How refreshing to hear that is still being said, still being practiced and instilled in our children and the importance being stressed.

It helps people to know and a reminder of the preciousness of life along with kindness and it's very power of the day, to be felt and held in the heart, body, spirit throughout the day.

Survival tools for growth, spiritual tools for being a better person when away from the sanctity of home and meeting with others out in the world; knowing you are valued, you are loved and that kindness is a core value in interactions.

As we teach our children, we instill the ways that they live their lives and listen to their inner voices.  There is no need to ever raise our voices at children; it diminishes them and it diminishes our own words by making us less than kind.

The only time our voices needs to be raised is when we sing, when we holler from the tops of mountains and rejoice in great refrains

or plunge into the ocean and emerge refreshed

or sit at the top of a ferris wheel and are amazed at the view!

Have you ever had one of those mouth watering funnel cakes at a fair, covered with powdered sugar and just wanted to squeal like a pig with delight?

 And when you had that awesome funnel cake did you have them to put "whipped creme on top" just hoping you didn't have to be kind enough to share it?

LOL

Kindness is never out of style even if it seems

"old timey"

it is one of the finest virtues of humankind!

One of the grandest things in the world I'm thinking is to extend kindness and to also pay it forward with each step you take.

Sometimes I still get so tickled with life that it is all I can do to contain myself!

Call it the kid in me, call it crazy, or just call it

ME

but life is so very precious,

I just hope I am around a long long time to enjoy each moment, each antic, each glimpse of wonderment, each moment that kindness brings joy!

Oh yes,

to be able to see a 

"clap clap clap" and to do my own

over random acts of kindness

and deliberate steps based in kindness

may feel like something that is now

out of vogue

or "old timey"

just give me that 

old timey kindness every time

it's good enough for me!

...

And on that note,

I will tell ya,

there are some powerful and most beautiful angels walking here amongst us,

yes there sure are.

Dressed like ordinary people,

walking their walk, talking their talk and living their lives

when out of the blue,

they just lean in and say or do something

that makes you just sit back and 

"clap clap clap"

knowing once again,

you have just been in the presence of an angel

or have just heard that one touched someone in ways that make you once again know

life is truly wonderful

and

dreams come true.

...

Thank you angel walking for your kindness and your gentle caring.

...

Throwing some love today to

NRV ELITE

where Kamryn is at basketball camp under the leadership of

Coach Julia Skinner

with gratitude to her and much success to those in blue balling as they

rise and grind!

Walk in Beauty

DRSES