OVERCOMING PERSONAL BARRIERS TO SHOWING KINDNESS

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Showing kindness is something most of us find joy in doing but sometimes well-intentioned acts of kindness can be perceived as a threat and some people can even act in a bad way or say hurtful words to the person trying to extend the hands of kindness towards them.

Here, in some places around me, some barriers hinder showing kindness to people. Some people believe by giving them money or food, you are trying to take their good luck for yourself or you are using some sort of voodoo to make things better for yourself by affecting them in the process.

I still remember one day on my way to work, I got to the bus stop and was about to cross to the other side of the road when I noticed a woman with three children(all hers I suppose). One of the children was strapped to her back, while the remaining two were standing beside her while she struggled with her load(she was carrying a big bag).

I noticed the children were on their way to school because they wore school uniforms and they were running late. I knew that because I was running late myself (All schools start the morning devotions at the same time).

I knew there was no way for her to take hold of two children and the bag while crossing at a go, so I thought I should assist her in holding at least one of them so we could all cross together. I moved closer and greeted her which she responded to and I asked if it would be okay to help her cross one of her children since we were all going in the same direction.

She gave me a very sharp "NO, THANK YOU", and scurried away like I was some kind of disease. I looked at myself again and wondered if there was something about me that I wasn't seeing. I was neatly and decently dressed. My overall appearance was very much presentable as I was on my way to work myself and as a teacher, I associate with children myself.

I was still looking stunned and before I could recover, she had crossed to the other side with her children. I get a mother's intuition about protecting their child(ren) but I felt very bad about the whole thing as I kept replaying the whole thing in my head as I walked down to my workplace.

If something as little as helping children cross the road is perceived as a threat, then how can someone be allowed to help with more important things? I thought of just minding their business henceforth but I just knew I wouldn't be able to do it.

So What Should Be Done?

In all, I believe we shouldn't allow personal opinions from people to become a barrier to showing kindness. We should always extend our hands to others, those who are willing to accept it will do so and those who won't, I guess we can only hope in time they will come to see that we meant no harm and also embrace what we are extending.

MY KINDNESS JOURNAL

I have been a bit under the weather this week which had me mostly indoors but then I was able to do the little I could when I went out yesterday.

Yesterday, I helped some traders to exchange their cash for smaller denominations. I was able to come across some money in lower denominations yesterday and though I needed it for my day-to-day transportation to work and back, I had to part away with it because I knew those traders needed them more than I did.

The first woman was an orange seller who as I walked by her stall was asking for those around her to help her change the money her customer brought into smaller denominations so she could remove hers and give the balance to the customer while people around her who happens to be traders all denied having small denominations on them, I walked back to her stall and helped her change the money with the cash on me, she was very happy and rained words of prayers my way, as I moved two steps away, another woman who probably witnessed what happened asked if I had more so I could also help her change hers which I did. It didn't seem like much but I was glad I was able to help.

This is my final post on the dreemport+kindness collaboration. I enjoyed every bit of it and looking forward to more collaborations.