Thinking about Kindness

I have been thinking about kindness a lot these days. As we watch our country fall into a morass of cruelty and dehumanization, acts of kindness take on a whole new meaning—they feel different, even more significant and appreciated.

Fortunately, stories about kindness at JDPP are easily accessible. As I thought about what to spotlight this week, SLAM (Sharing Lives/Arts Matter) at the Hartford male juvenile detention center came to mind. SLAM is a JDPP multi-arts engagement under the auspices of CPA (Community Partners in Action) and CSSD. Mellissa Craig who leads SLAM at the Hartford center shared her students’ thoughts about kindness with me, resulting from an exercise writing an acrostic poem to the letters of the word. The artwork included here is from the young men at the Bridgeport juvenile detention center where Meghan McDermott leads the group.

These writings and reflections are hard to match in their clarity and wisdom.  These young people who so often are ‘othered’ and ignored, soundly remind us about what kindness means. Their words are a gift of kindness.

Kindness

Is loving the unloved.

Never giving up on people that are hurt;

Doing what’s right even if you don’t want to;

Never ignoring people that are in need;

Endless love regardless of who a person is.

Saying positive affirmations; and

Seeking and giving hugs to people that never had that attention in their lives.

*****

Kindness is…

Killing

Ignorance,

Negativity and

Denial.

Negativity should never

Enter our

Safe

Space.

*****

Kindness

Is

Never ending.

Drive

Negative

Energy away.

Stay

Strong.

*****

Let’s listen to these words: stay strong, never give up, love ourselves, resist negativity, and give everyone a chance – and let’s make sure that the arts remain the vehicle through which we can express who we are and our hopes for a better world—a world in which kindness rules the day. What a blessing if that day comes!