The expression “at least do no harm” is circulating. I have heard several commentators state this. And it makes sense right now. How can I protect my community? At least, don’t put someone else’s health in jeopardy through my actions. At least don’t take the last few rolls of toilet paper, or parcels of chicken, but leave some for others.
As a corollary, I have also heard that we should act as if we are contagious and make our way in the world with that in mind. In other words, we take care of each other as we take care of ourselves.
This is all good and necessary, but it’s a barebones stance. It’s the least we can do. Some may be able to do only this level of care. I imagine that those in extreme distress, financial or medical for example, could understandably only muster such a response.
Many of us do have more resources. For us, I want to add more to our community response. I want to add kindness. And thankfully, I have seen many examples of kindness and acknowledgement. These are simple acts like thanking the checkout person in the grocery store, or the mail delivery person. Or asking bank tellers how they are. Simply appreciate the people who are contributing to make everyone’s lives function. There are endless ways to express kindness.
I realize now that these acts of kindness start a chain reaction. How does that work? When someone is kind to me, I feel seen and acknowledged. It gives me a lift and a sense of connection with and appreciation for another. I believe that acts of kindness then kindle a spark of energy that also opens us up to hope.
I used to think that hope was a static, naive emotion. Nice but usually useless. Now I see that it can be a dynamic game changer. It is the little glimmer that points the way to new openings, new light, new possibilities, new ideas, even if we never know what our simple act has sparked.
Emily Dickinson wrote that “Hope is the thing with feathers.” Hope endures even in the midst of a storm and asks nothing of us. Who knows what innovations can evolve from those glimmerings?