Kindness every day

but to me, the kindest gesture I know is to gently touch someone (not an Elaine Benis “get out!” shove, though I think those can be loads o’ fun too, having done a few) but a light touch upon the arm or hand or cheek. I don’t mean it as a sympathetic gesture, either, but as a gesture of sweetness, of affection. Perhaps to some it doesn’t make much sense and is intrusive. It is a kindness I wouldn’t mind every day. To give, to receive.

Some of the kindest words I could ever hear, this morning: my best friend ringing me up before nine, I know it’s early, but I couldn’t wait to talk to you and tell you, you, my best friend in the world...

I swear I tear up thinking about it.

evening, I packed up several boxes of holiday treats from the kitchen to send across the continent to delight (I know they will!) new friends. Then I scraped the leftover chocolate into my mouth, for it needs kindness too.

I think of small kindnesses.
Often these involve the identification of smaller needs and wants and gratifying, with pleasure, things like small and cryptically affectionate notes, doodles on a serviette, an extra squirt of squeez-cheez, and the prize cashew from the bowl. Kindnesses! Small and sweet surprises to light up eyes and soul!

Kindness glides about my house.
Dame Kindness, she is so nice!
The blue and red jewels of her rings smoke
In the windows, the mirrors
Are filling with smiles.

What is so real as the cry of a child?
A rabbit’s cry may be wilder
But it has no soul.
Sugar can cure everything, so Kindness says.
Sugar is a necessary fluid,

Its crystals a little poultice.
O kindness, kindness
Sweetly picking up pieces!
My Japanese silks, desperate butterflies,
May be pinned any minute, anaesthetized.

And here you come, with a cup of tea
Wreathed in steam.
The blood jet is poetry,
There is no stopping it.
You hand me two children, two roses.

-Sylvia Plath

but it has to have the addendum of sincerity for it to be successful. And if I don’t get what I want, it will not do for me to throw shoes either literally or metaphorically.