Just Be Kind

In Peter Capaldi’s next to last episode of Dr. Who, he makes a speech that rings so true to me. If you want to know why I liked this past season of Dr. Who, it is speeches like this.

“Winning? Is that what you think it’s about? I’m not trying to win. I’m not doing this because I want to beat someone, or because I hate someone, or because I want to blame someone. It’s not because it’s fun. God knows it’s not because it’s easy. It’s not even because it works because it hardly ever does.. I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE IT’S RIGHT! Because it’s decent! And above all, it’s kind! It’s just that.. Just kind. If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live. Maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, you know, maybe there’s no point to any of this at all. But it’s the best I can do. So I’m going to do it. And I will stand here doing it until it kills me. And you’re going to die too! Some day.. And how will that be? Have you thought about it? What would you die for? Who I am is where I stand.. Where I stand is where I fall. Stand with me. These people are terrified. Maybe we can help a little. Why not, just at the end, just be kind?” — The Doctor

Just Be Kind is my mantra for living as a decent person on this crazy planet. It costs me nothing and, with any luck, helps others by known that they matter.

I learned it from my parents. I remember once asking my mother if she knew the store clerk that waited on us. She said no but it never hurts to be polite. She taught me by example to be kind to others no matter what they did. A custodian deserved the same kindness as the president of the university. They are people with different titles but still work for the university and do jobs that keep the university running.

This past weekend found us at DragonCon and in the Hyatt where I encountered one of the housekeepers who has watched Caroline grow up and really enjoys my puppets named Lucile. Honestly I think Lucile should have retired a number of years ago but she is still doing it and does a great job. This is the first time I have seen her since they started the renovations on the Hyatt International Tower and we were not on the same floor as we had been for years. She remembered me and was amazed how much Caroline had grown up in the intervening years. It was nice to see her. We walked to the elevator and heard her tell the woman working with her that we are a very nice family who comes down for DragonCon.

I remember at bowling once I was introduced to one of my fellow bowlers daughters who looked familiar but I couldn’t place where I had seen her. Afterward she told me that her daughter was the assistant manager at the local grocery store I go to and her daughter told her how much everyone there likes me because I treat them like people. I honestly don’t know any other way to treat people.

I remember kindnesses done for me over the years. People who did that little extra thing that made my life better. A kind word when things were not looking great. Those people this past weekend that helped me get puppets to their new owners. They didn’t have to help me, but they did and I am grateful for their help.

I am polite because I was taught to be polite to everyone. I try to be kind because it is the right thing to do. I try to help people where I can. I try to be a good person.

Just be kind. It is a simple but complex way to live one’s life and it works for me.

I am grateful that I learned to be kind at an early age.