Kindness Now

Have you ever experienced someone’s kindness? Or that you were being kind? More than likely, you were not even aware that you were being kind. We just want to be helpful. Our heart is touched with good will, with thoughts of the other rather than self. Even in the face of danger to ourselves, we are likely to try to be of help.

Perhaps a child runs out into a busy street chasing a ball; unless someone stops traffic, the child will be hit. Once, when a child was in his mother’s car in a seat belt at a stop light, and saw a cat run out into a busy street, he unbuckled his belt, opened the door, and jumped out to save the cat. His mother was seconds away from him. All were saved because others were also moved to the state of helpfulness. Kindness doesn’t just happen under grave situations. It shows up and changes the outcome from separateness to wholeness. It is an amazing state of consciousness when we work for the good of all. It is something we may experience when doing T‘ai Chi Chih (TCC).

One teacher shared that she felt an amazing feeling when all in the room ended the movement at the same time. Justin often would notice when that happened by saying, “Did you feel that?” His face was usually aglow with light. I call those centered times, feeling the wholeness times. We may not realize how important that experience is; all we know is that everything in our lives feels right. But it expands to raise our state of consciousness. It affects what is going on right now, but it may also give a new perspective on something from the past. Now when we think about it, it no longer shakes us like a dog with a new toy. We have a new strength.

Experiencing a kindness usually brings us back to the wholeness of life — connected to everyone and everything. The more we experience these times, the stronger we become. We are able to know the goodness of life. Our thoughts are not pulled back as often to the pain of the past but more to experiences of ‘now,’ a time of wholeness and connection. We are able to know we can experience kindness in our lives and as we do, we learn to love an share the Chi.

heart

open

standing firm

grounded in peace,

love, health, hope

strength and

joy

— Sheryl Adair for the New Year