Welcome to Kindness week! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this week. So simple and so profound, kindness has a way of changing and fortifying lives. One of it’s wonders is the ability to transform both the giver and receiver. January shares this brilliantly in these two poems:
 

Gratitude for the Sun
by January Handl

Does the sun wait for gratitude
to extend the kindness of the beams
of living light?

My mother’s silver curls lay
next to me on the couch,
she has reclined as one
so often does while watching TV
                 sitting, but slumped
                                             over to a pillow.

It has been 4 years since my father died
4 years…
her every day contact and hugs
                      affectionate kisses and tender touches
                                             have dwindled beyond what I dare
                                                                         to imagine, I don’t want to.

I tentatively reach out and stroke her head
as she has done so often in my life,
she sighs and I feel tears sting
                                    at the brim of their
                                                    descent down my cheeks, hanging
                                                                                                         onto my
                                                                                                                    chin.

With children grown
                           some days I yearn to still
                                             offer and receive in that
                                                       precious circle of boundless bond,
            where kindness kindles the tender
                                        knowing of how vulnerable
                                                     we remain to the life-giving
                                                                           love of a parent’s light.

 

~~~

Such a small thing…
by January Handl

Such a small thing…
the thin smile offered by
a stranger in line at the grocery
after our eyes met.

Such a huge thing…
connection in our humanity,
in our shoulder to shoulder
bearing of life’s burdens,
recognizing
triumph’s quick retreat
at the next challenge
we offer the warmth
of sharing a flicker
of rueful understanding

Such a small thing…
a hand offered without thought
for a moment’s time and effort

Such a huge thing…
the instant of gratitude,
humility and wonder,
We cannot do it alone.
We don’t have to.

 
This week I invite you to delight in the wonder that is kindness. Offer it freely and often. When you feel the cranky heat of annoyance heating up your neck, pause and see who, in this moment, could benefit from some kindness? Is it them? Perhaps it is even you! When you see worry and concern around you, consider kindness as its balm. This week let’s choose and spread kindness, random and deliberate!

Such a small and great thing you carry with you! How will you use kindness this week?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tamara and January are here each Monday to help set the mood for the week!

Tamara Magnitsky

Tamara Magnitsky, a child of the wild blue yonder,
has been an ardent student and advocate for poetry, photography and excellence in general.
She is the mother of a 6 year old daughter and a beloved wife.
She can be found most days.

Bio written by Cary Brosius ~Tamara’s husband  🙂

 

January Handl

January Handl is first and always a mother, has been a preschool teacher and parent educator for 25 years. She is currently the Director/head teacher at Gazebo Park School, and lives at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. She lives simply in awe of existence.

She calls her photo “hot tub bliss”  🙂