EDM 510 Spring 2015
In our 7th grade class, we've been reading R.J. Palacio's Wonder (2012) - a quote from this book, about the ups and downs of a disfigured preteen, will follow. Please briefly describe an instance of a kindness done to or for you, or give your own definition of the word kindness - what does it mean to you?
Here Mr. Tushman looked up at the audience. "Kinder than is necessary, " he repeated. "What a marvelous line, isn't it? Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds methat we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness. And what does that mean? How is that measured? You can't use a yardstick. It's like I was saying just before: it's not like measuring how much you've grown in a year. It's not exactly quantifiable, is it? How do we know we've been kind? What is being kind, anyway?" (p. 300)
Kindness was when I paid one of my cousins debts just because. Kindness was when my best friend sent me an Edible Arrangement because she knew I was not feeling well. Kindness is helping out when you do not have to. Kindness can be calling to check on another person just because they crossed your mind. Sometimes, kindness is holding the door open for someone who has their arms full. Recently, I have heard of someone paying it forward by paying for the person's meal who is in the drive thru behind you. That is kindness.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Kindness is something that is done with little thought of your own personal interest and more focus on the well-being of the other person. Kindness is something that is felt not so much by the person who is doing the deed but rather by the person being affected. One instance that I can recall was when I moved down here with my husband and son, hours away from our family, and I was immediately struck with illness and could not work for a little while. I suffered one illness after the other just like being in a satirical story, then my son was diagnosed with a progressive eye disease that is gradually leaving him blind. We had been in perfect health all of our lives but it seemed like everything came crashing down once we moved here. My husband tried to work overtime to pay for all of the medical bills but that just was not enough to cover one month. Then I got a card in the mail from my aunt which had money in it to help cover the cost of our bills for that month. I sat down with my family and we cried because it deeply touched us that we had a supporting group even though we did not ask for it. After that things have gotten better and I was able to not only go back to working full time but also start graduate school again. This is an act of kindness that will always be in my mind.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of kindness is thinking of someone other than yourself. In a world where the mentality is often ‘every man for himself,’ it can be difficult to step back and consider the needs of others. Kindness is doing something nice for someone and not expecting anything in return. Kindness can come in many forms and doesn't necessarily mean giving gifts. You can show kindness by giving your time or lending an ear. You never know what other people are going through, so it’s best to act with kindness even if it doesn’t feel reciprocal. (I know this is easier said than done.) Countless people have been kind to me, but I find the most meaningful acts of kindness are small, like a phone call or message from a friend.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed reading these responses! Rereading Wonder made me think about how hard middle school is - I have two teens myself and sub in middle school often. Acts of kindness can go a long way - from supportive words from a teacher to a motivational talk from a school counselor to an encouraging chat between peers, middle school is rough, but small things and kind words go a long way in boosting self-esteem and confidence.
ReplyDeleteA. McCall