Because Kindness Matters
Hello all...
Yes, I know it's a break, but I'm still writing! Why you ask? Because it has become therapeutic for me. We've all got lots of time to think these days, and as my mind wanders, my thoughts about what's important in life solidify. Writing them down helps me, and I hope it helps you too! So I will continue to write a bit each day.
Yesterday I was thinking about kindness and little things that can make a person's day. I was thinking about it because of a walk my family and I have been taking often lately. We live on a dirt road, at the far end of our town, and when you go out to walk you can either go up or go down. Up tends to be muddier and there are some blind curves that don't lend themselves to walking with two kids. So generally we go down.
There is a house about a mile and a half down the road, and we usually walk to their mailbox and turn around and come home. We call the house Mrs. Baker's house because Eileen Baker, the former Choral teacher at CBMS, used to live there. I used to put my kids in their wagon when they were little, and we'd walk down to visit Eileen. She'd to give the kids ice cream, and she'd let them pet her huge German Shephards. I think because the kids have good memories of her house, it continues to be our turn around spot.
After Eileen moved, a couple with no kids moved into the house, and we didn't really have an occasion to meet them formally. (It's kind of a quiet road with houses spread pretty far apart). This past year, however, I started to connect the dots that a lady that runs with her dog each morning, passing us as we wait at the bus stop (when school is in session), is one of the women that lives in Mrs. Baker's house now. We wave at each other on these early mornings being just two of a few folks usually out and about at 7:00 am in the cold and dark. I am always impressed by how hardcore she is, running on even the coldest and darkest of mornings, but still always sharing a smile and a wave.
Anyway, back to my story...fast forward to the COVID dismissal, and we've been walking and biking to their driveway and turning around. This couple's dog usually hears us coming, and barks to say hello! The two women usually come out onto their porch and cheer us on! They encourage the kids, and always have kind words to share. We've been able to exchange some simple pleasantries from our socially distant positions, us in the road, and them from their porch. They have inquired about the kids and their ages, and we've met their dogs. As it turns out that one of them is a 3rd-grade teacher so she even offered extra support or work to my third grader if he needs anything!
These days, when it's sometimes hard to find reasons to smile, the simple kindness of our neighbors, a cheer, a wave, and some exchanged pleasantries, has meant a lot to us and to our kids. When we are able to reconnect with friends and neighbors when the stay-at-home order is lifted, we plan to repay the kindness these women have shown to us.
Yes, I know it's a break, but I'm still writing! Why you ask? Because it has become therapeutic for me. We've all got lots of time to think these days, and as my mind wanders, my thoughts about what's important in life solidify. Writing them down helps me, and I hope it helps you too! So I will continue to write a bit each day.
Yesterday I was thinking about kindness and little things that can make a person's day. I was thinking about it because of a walk my family and I have been taking often lately. We live on a dirt road, at the far end of our town, and when you go out to walk you can either go up or go down. Up tends to be muddier and there are some blind curves that don't lend themselves to walking with two kids. So generally we go down.
There is a house about a mile and a half down the road, and we usually walk to their mailbox and turn around and come home. We call the house Mrs. Baker's house because Eileen Baker, the former Choral teacher at CBMS, used to live there. I used to put my kids in their wagon when they were little, and we'd walk down to visit Eileen. She'd to give the kids ice cream, and she'd let them pet her huge German Shephards. I think because the kids have good memories of her house, it continues to be our turn around spot.
After Eileen moved, a couple with no kids moved into the house, and we didn't really have an occasion to meet them formally. (It's kind of a quiet road with houses spread pretty far apart). This past year, however, I started to connect the dots that a lady that runs with her dog each morning, passing us as we wait at the bus stop (when school is in session), is one of the women that lives in Mrs. Baker's house now. We wave at each other on these early mornings being just two of a few folks usually out and about at 7:00 am in the cold and dark. I am always impressed by how hardcore she is, running on even the coldest and darkest of mornings, but still always sharing a smile and a wave.
Anyway, back to my story...fast forward to the COVID dismissal, and we've been walking and biking to their driveway and turning around. This couple's dog usually hears us coming, and barks to say hello! The two women usually come out onto their porch and cheer us on! They encourage the kids, and always have kind words to share. We've been able to exchange some simple pleasantries from our socially distant positions, us in the road, and them from their porch. They have inquired about the kids and their ages, and we've met their dogs. As it turns out that one of them is a 3rd-grade teacher so she even offered extra support or work to my third grader if he needs anything!
These days, when it's sometimes hard to find reasons to smile, the simple kindness of our neighbors, a cheer, a wave, and some exchanged pleasantries, has meant a lot to us and to our kids. When we are able to reconnect with friends and neighbors when the stay-at-home order is lifted, we plan to repay the kindness these women have shown to us.
I hope this story helps you to remember that kindness matters! Many of you have probably seen the sign I have in my office that states it. Being kind doesn't cost you anything and you can't measure the positive impact that it has on others, so choose to be kind today and always!
Be Well,
Mrs. Hempey
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