Records of kindness and compassion are not in the majority compared to acts of revenge, anger and destruction.
What would happen if we turned the tables? What would happen if every person on this planet made a record of just one act of kindness that improved their life, even if just for a moment?
To most, kindness doesn't seem tangible. It's something that exists for a moment and then disappears. What if there was a way to prove to people that kindness is real... that it does make a difference, and even though it may not be instantaneous, it never goes unnoticed or unappreciated?
I set up this website for people to record acts of kindness and love... anonymous or even not... of things they've done for others, things others have done for them, things they wish they could have done (missed opportunities), apologies to people they feel they have wronged, and just create this... "place" that will keep a record of those memories and apologies and make the existence of KINDNESS tangible.
The world is consumed with recording events in history that involve famous people and those with an abundance of material fortune. Inventions and things that advance our technology are commonplace in textbooks and documentaries. Since the beginning of time, we have recorded wars and battles and bloodshed in every detail possible and have forced our children to memorize the horrific details in exchange for a passing grade. We live in a world where every minute detail of every murder and rape and negative/destructive action is recorded and repeated throughout numerous outlets - especially the internet. Newspapers and television broadcasts all repeat the same gruesome details over and over and over again. With the internet quickly becoming an integral part of everyone's lives, we now see these gruesome stories repeated on internet web logs in addition to television, talk shows, news casts and movies.
Hollywood movies are as much a part of the "American Culture" as hot dogs and apple pie. In Hollywood, there is never triumph without severe tragedy. Movies are made to portray the events of horrendous negative actions such as murder -- time and time again. They are even re-made years down the line when technology improves that allows the gruesome details to be depicted more realistically. A decade ago, these horror films did have at least one redeeming value: they portrayed multiple heroes and survivors with a joyous and satisfying ending. Unfortunately, as we exited the 1990's, it became common for these horror films to have no survivors, even after we think the characters are safe. In the case where a single character survives, there is often an implied fate of death despite how hard he has fought to survive. In these films there is no sense of resolution at the end of the movie and the audience is left with a lingering feeling of fear. Hopelessness plagues the American culture.
We live in a world that enjoys horror. We think, "oh, how horrible" and we don't want to know the details... yet we continue to expose ourselves and our children to the same negativity that we are disgusted by. Day after day after day.
All of these negative actions and gory details are recorded in history forever. On the internet, on television, in movies and books... it isn't possible to go one day without being exposed to something extremely negative. Negativity is the fabric with which the entertainment industry has been woven. In the media, whether it's a newscast or a Hollywood film, heroes are only heroes when they prosecute a rapist, discover the victim of an attempted murder just in time to save them from death, rescue people from a building that was deliberately set on fire, escape from a sadomasochist who has been torturing them for years, or voluntarily sacrifice their own life when a spree killer starts taking hostages.
While these stories are inspiring and positive in the sense that they create a story of triumph over tragedy, every day people do not relate to them. Whether these stories are based on fact of fiction, they do carry a positive message that people seem to absorb. But when people describe the plot of these movies to their friends, they remember most the horror, the murder, the bloodshed and the terror. it is painfully clear that tragedy overpowers triumph in our memories.
It's time to change that.
The heroes in movies may be based on real events, but if people can't relate to them, the inspiration they feel from such movies is purely entertainment.
What about every day heroes who weave themselves into our daily lives? The people who we know directly inspired a positive change in our lives? What about the every day heroes who make this world a pleasant place just with a single random act of kindness? You know, the people who, when we are having a bad day, remind us that we all have the capacity to be unconditionally kind? Those individuals who renew our faith in humanity just when we are about to give up? What about the teachers who encourage us to be ourselves despite the obstacles we may face in life? Have we forgotten the smiles and small favors done unto us by both people we know and complete strangers? We have countless records of negativity and violence both fact and fiction. So where are the acts of kindness? Do we ignore the because they don't make a good Hollywood thriller? Are they ignored because our society just doesn't care about compassion?
Records of kindness and compassion are not in the majority compared to acts of revenge, anger and destruction.
What would happen if we turned the tables? What would happen if every person on this planet made a record of just one act of kindness that improved their life, even if just for a moment?
To most, kindness doesn't seem tangible. It's something that exists for a moment and then disappears. What if there was a way to prove to people that kindness is real... that it does make a difference, and even though it may not be instantaneous, it never goes unnoticed or unappreciated?
I set up this website for people to record acts of kindness and love... anonymous or even not... of things they've done for others, things others have done for them, things they wish they could have done (missed opportunities), apologies to people they feel they have wronged, and just create this... "place" that will keep a record of those memories and apologies and make the existence of KINDNESS tangible.
When people go to view these expressions, they can relate to something real, somehow -- whether they can relate to the person who did something for someone else... maybe they've done the same action but never thought it made a difference... but will see that it does make a difference to someone...
Maybe the expressions here will inspire someone to keep going. You know, not let people forget that compassion is real and you have to consciously be aware of it or it fades... I don't want people to forget how much one small act of kindness matters.
Live and Love in the moment.
Namaste,
Daily Kindness Admin
Daily Kindness
http://dailykindness.org/article.php?story=20080117000957145