The World is Moving Pretty Fast: Be Kind, Be Happy – Here’s How

Kindness ˈkīn(d)nəs/: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. 

It’s a mood, a feeling, an act that everyone deserves from those closest to or farthest away from them. Holding the door, offering to go ahead in a line, a card in the mail or meme via text, a hug from those in your bubble, or even a compliment. It lifts you up, keeps you going. Although the world is moving at 1,000 mph – literally– these moments can stop time and keep you grounded.

The snow globe way of life is here now in Madison, and it feels like a blanket distancing the noise that has become our day to day like the blur of a time lapse photo. That is, if you like snow!

Try it out. Day or night- bundle up, stand in the snow, and just listen. Absorb the peace, the sound of the wind, the crunch of the snow. Pick a cool landscape like one of our frozen lakes. See if it helps quiet all the noise of the news, the pandemic, the frenetic pace…

We’re lucky to be here- there’s a 1 in 400 trillion chance that you exist! We might as well try, so why not be kind to yourself via self-care and actually slow down and enjoy the little things. Don your oxygen mask first before trying to help others, right? Feeling secure and happy will probably make you want to be kind to a stranger or special-someone during our current chaos and uncertainty.

There are often buddy benches on elementary school playgrounds around Madison. I love this concept! In a time when kids might feel lost or uncertain, they can sit and wait for a pick me up from a new or old friend who is feeling generous and kind… an invitation to play, a quiet sit together, or just someone to listen.

Adults seem to execute this a bit differently. They might pay it forward in the Starbucks coffee line, help a neighbor, or surprise their spouse/partner with a silly gift when feeling generous.

I’m guessing everyone can relate to a moment where someone was not kind. It might not always be your first reaction, but it is always worth considering why so? What is happening in their life causing them to be so rude? Can we lift each other up right now? Be empathetic and share the love? 

I’m optimistic that we can. Here’s hoping for more kindness in 2022!

Lyndsey Battaglia
Lyndsey was born and raised in New Orleans which instilled a deep passion for architecture, history, and FOOD. She and her husband James are proud graduates of UW-Madison. Go Badgers! They live in the Madison area with their 3 active children. Lyndsey is a freelance writer and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. When not working, she can be found running her kids around to swimming, ballet, basketball, and skiing. They all love new adventures, travel, cooking, being outdoors, reading, biking, and trying to keep up with their new puppy.

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