Pain

I am writing this post on Tuesday, March 23rd. The headline today is: 10 Killed in Mass Shooting at Grocery Store in Colorado. This the seventh mass shooting in seven days. What is happening in our world? Is it about mental illness, rage at perceived injustice, the need to control, hate, drug abuse? I’ll tell you what it certainly is about…pain. Pain, as in suffering, torment, distress, anxiety, grief, fear. At the root, it is pain that drives us to hurt ourselves and others.

Whatever else the solutions to gun violence include, we must answer this question: How can we address the pain? I am convinced that if we each could feel love, actually FEEL love…our pain would subside. If we could feel the genuine and caring concern from others…our pain would be soothed. Even little bits at a time.

I believe people do small acts of kindness everyday that help soothe the pain in others. Things like…an encouraging word, a smile, a touch, an offer to help, a complement, a hug, a phone call, a text. Simple words like…I understand, I hear you, I love you, how you feel matters to me, I’m sorry you’re hurting. Simple actions like…sending a card in the mail, listening without judgement, showing up for support. Sometimes we are completely unaware of how these small acts of kindness soothe the pain in others. We may not see it, but I know it’s there. I can feel it.

The news headline this morning brought up sadness in me. It also brought to my awareness this – pain is soothed by kindness. And kindness is something I can offer everyday.

Much love
Paula