Finding Hope in Small Acts of Kindness: A Journey Through the Beauty of the World
Yesterday, I wrote to you about a magical winter walk with friends through a snow-covered forest, and I added some photos to give you the complete picture. The snow gently fell on the trees, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere, and I described how we watched a squirrel gather seeds that had fallen from a birdhouse. It was a moment we all realized how much we appreciated the beauty of nature all around us.
It’s not the kind of story that will make headlines in the world’s newspapers, and it is not my intention. But in its modest contribution, it serves a purpose in a world where the news is filled with negativity, injustice, and tragedy. I know many of us can feel overwhelmed by the reality of the state of the planet and global politics, where inequality is on the rise, democracy is under threat, and where a country can just invade another as if we still live in the days of Genghis Kahn. But don’t forget that these moments spent in nature, surrounded by beauty and joy, are just as much a part of the reality of our lives on this planet.
As I walked through the forest, I was reminded that there is still so much good in the world. And while I do not see the political will and leadership to create a world that is kind and fair for all, I find inspiration in small moments of kindness and beauty that I come across, and I often share them with you in this newsletter.
This evening, I saw a story about a woman who adopted a bee without wings. Despite its challenges and short life expectancy, she provided flowers and honey for the bee, and for one short summer, they became the best of friends. I posted the video on Twitter; I know this little story will never make it to the headlines, but it can spread hope and positivity to all who come across it.
I try to highlight these small acts of kindness and moments of beauty in my writing. It counterbalances my articles about the world’s challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, or injustice. Of course, we shouldn’t close our eyes to those realities because recognizing our problems is the first step towards solving them. But I also aim to counteract the dark forces that spread hatred and fear by reminding my readers that there is still so much good in the world. The world may not always be perfect, but it is full of small acts of kindness and beauty that can make a difference.
From a global perspective, I don’t see the political will amongst powerful world leaders to compromise for the common good. But I will never give up hope; if I can’t find it in the global outlook, I search and find it on a smaller, local scale. I find it in examples of kindness and beauty close to home or close to me. The squirrel may have forgotten the few seconds it was grabbing those bird seeds, but maybe you briefly enjoyed the photo I shared, and I hope so did thousands of others. In that way, the good can be magnified, shared, and multiplied. In a world of growing inequality and fear, I try in my own small way to mirror that trend in the other direction and remind you all that there is still so much good in the world.
I hope that tomorrow, and every day, you will find hope in those moments and the strength to keep focusing on the global challenges because ignoring that side of reality is a recipe for never finding any solutions. There is a continuum between the realities of good and evil, and you and each of us are part of that eternal battle. I hope the good will ultimately win, and it starts with those small acts of sharing beauty, helping each other, and showing kindness in this brutal world. You can be a more powerful force for good than you had ever realized.
I write this newsletter because I believe that together we can do better on this beautiful but fragile planet.
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Notes:
Just one note for tonight: that bee-story:
The beauty of fresh snow...small acts of kindness....never give up hope. A recipe for peace to hold onto. Bless you, Alexander, for guiding us along your well informed yet human path of kindness in our day to day struggles. 😊🕊️
Kindness is shaped like our heart, they say. And I could write pages about this poetic definition of our consideration, respect and loving attachment to all life forms around us. We are taught to say please and thank you, but we are rarely told why we should. They remain just simple rules of good manners. We use quotes and poems, pictures and songs to express our values, our desires and sometimes our claims because it's easier and we feed our egos in competitive doses of admiration. However, our everyday attitudes and actions are, most of the time, the shapeless mirage on the horizon. We are judges and executioners of humanity and we forget that we are also part of it. After all, we are bees in a huge hive...
Empathy will be immeasurable and permanent the day we become aware that we are not untouchable, that we revolve with the world and it is not the world that revolves around us. Until then, we must try, and insist on giving the face and the example. Fortunately, some among us are living and sharing this reality with commitment. That is, in itself, a random act of kindness.
Thank you for being there, Alexander.