In the wake of Chadwick Boseman’s death, the message on social media has been “be kind to people.” Kindness to everyone is what we should all aim for, because as we all learned from Chadwick’s death, people are fighting battles you have no inkling about.
But what does it really mean to be kind to people? How do we aim for kindness in this age of “me-first, self-love, do anything that makes you happy” rhetoric?
One thing that has made a lot of us really unkind in the past years is social media. We hide behind our phone screens and say mean things to other people and file in under “trolling, dragging etc.”
Social media has us think that it is okay to be mean to people. It is not okay. Before Chadwick died, he was attacked for losing weight. After his death, everyone was posting “be kind to people” yet less than 48 hours the mob started on British singer, Adele.
We have heard of people who how social media trolling and dragging has affected people in their daily life, even to the extent that some took their own lives. We hear of those tragedies and pay lip service to the act of kindness.
It takes practice to be kind to people both online and in our daily. Kindness doesn’t have to be grand gestures; it is also in the little things like keeping quiet if you have nothing good to say about someone or something. Help an elderly person carry heavy stuff, give up your seat in a bus for an old person, pregnant woman or even if just a very tired person. If someone asks for help and you can afford to help them then don’t hesitate. We know what kindness is, it just takes a certain level of self-awareness for us to practice it daily.
Always remember that life is fleeting and difficult for people in many ways than one, the very least you can do is to extend a hand of kindness. Put yourself in another person’s shoes and treat them how you wish to be treated in similar situations.