Kindness

"True kindness is giving without expecting a return."

Sounds familiar?

We have heard of this saying in so many different versions every now so often.

Human beings are creatures exposed to the culture of giving and expecting the same thing to be returned. What we give out, we have the thought that the same must be returned.

For many years, I struggle to understand why the effort I give out is not compensated accordingly. Why there are times, when I give out, I receive appreciation and other times not?

Then upon reading a couple of books from The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and Haenim Sunim, I took the time to slow down and reassess everything that was happening in particular giving out. I slowly understood that everyone gives and returns in different ways.

I break down the givings in 2 categories, tangible and non-tangible. The tangible giving is pretty much the money, the job and everything else you can see and feel. Take for instance, when someone kindly lends us money, we ought to return the amount borrowed.

The non-tangible way is mostly undermined. I term these givers as 'Angel-carers'. They give by way of caring, keeping one company, giving us morale support, listening to our rambling/venting/whining, etc. These angel carers despite their situation or circumstances will give their time to ensure that our mental/emotional health are cared for with the expectation of getting zero return.

Now, I understand the saying 'Kindness is a language which the blind can see and the deaf can hear'.

When we give, it entails we have it to give it.

"Gratitude fuels the giving."