Many years ago, I worked for a removal company and had to do
a quotation at an organisation within our local police service who specialized
in child welfare/protection. A typical government organisation atmosphere, with
old furniture and nothing inviting about it.
On the walls, there were notice boards and posters regarding child-line
emergency numbers etc. One specific poster made a huge impact on me.
It stated a list of basic needs of children:
To be loved, to have a roof over their head, to have food on
the table… to name a few.
When you look around the world there is so much violence,
hatred, cruelty, grief and selfishness, one cannot help to wonder where these
feelings/ emotions were born? What
happened to kindness, humanity, and love for your neighbour? Leon Logothetis a
Journalist and writer travel around the world relying only on kindness from
strangers. He cannot accept money. He
travels in a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle from Alaska to Argentina, definitely with
its challenges. This is his second trip in search of kindness so he named the
Bug, Kindness 2. Such an inviting name
for the yellow Bug.
While watching the
series and wanting to be a part of this selfless journey, it was just another
affirmation that kindness is probably one of the few gestures that one can give
and feel more enriched when walking away. An eye-opener to how many people have
kind hearts and want to help. Mostly
the people who have the least who are the most willing to help, offer shelter,
food and gas. He travelled to the most
remote destinations on his journey stretching from Alaska down to Argentina. 4 seasons including every type of weather
condition you can imagine. (To be expected if you travel from the Northern
hemisphere to the southern hemisphere within a few days.) Snow, Temperatures as
low as -30C, salt lakes, majestic mountain sceneries, beautiful beaches as far
as the eye can see, summer nights with new friends.
Architecture from the 1600’s and wondering how on earth they
manage to build structures still standing today with the few resources they had
back then. Different cuisines from the so many different cultures he interacted
with. Different cultures, tribes, the most interesting people each one with
his/her own unique story to tell. And then he asks the question, why are you
being kind to me? The universal answer
is mainly that at some point in time that person was helped by a stranger, and
they believe in paying it forward, or something awful happened in their lives
and they had an in-depth realisation of what is important in life.
Anne Frank quoted in her famous diaries: How wonderful it is
that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
A school very dear to me change their motto every year. The moto
for 2019 was … Spread kindness like confetti….. On 12th August 2020 exactly 1
year ago we had to say goodbye to our Baby Angel in heaven. Her kind heart at
such a young age is admirable, to be able to believe that there are still good
in this world. The thought crossed my mind that we as humans focus to sometimes
only see and search for the negative, the gossip, fault finding in other human
beings, we do not realise that we miss to see the greater picture.
I certainly am grateful for each person who was and still are
part of our children’s lives. To know that many love our children, create a
grateful heart. It is ultimately about them. You will be amazed by the impact
that children can have on grownups lives.
Never let the age fool you.
Imagine what the world could be like in 10 years if we start
teaching our children kindness, tolerance, respect - how different will people
be towards each other? How different
will this world be?
Because if you believe,
signs turn up everywhere.
Kindest regards, and enjoy the change in season.
Liesel