As we come to the end of the year we often find ourselves reflecting back on the past and how we can better face the uncertainty of the future that is coming our way.
Life is a strange ride indeed and we are always on the lookout for guideposts whether we realize it or not. I was lucky to find two of them this week and I thought they were worth sharing.
In the wide open spaces of our hearts there is more room than we know. And in times of tragedy we get a glimpse of how much we can feel for others. My wife sent this quote to me last week and I loved it. It has a simple stickiness as an idea that can outlast nearly anything that befalls us.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.”
—Fred Rogers
And then a day or so later a friend of mine posted this on Facebook. And again I loved the simplicity of the idea.
“Monday Morning. Here we go. Be kind to one another. Really be kind. Think about your actions. Don’t get bogged down in the petty stuff. Just be kind. Smile more. Don’t let people who disagree with you politically upset you. You can’t change their mind and they can’t change yours. Just be kind. Love one another. Take the high road. Do a good deed. Be kind. Go out of your way to be kind. Be the type of kind that when you see it on tv it seems over the top. Be that version of kind. Do the right thing. Be kind.
– Larry Hooper
So there it is. I am going to close out the year with this post.
And I am going to carry these words into the New Year.
Look for the helpers and be kind.