Airport Stress: Practice Kindness

I was at the airport boarding my plane.  In front of me was a frustrated mom raising her voice to her  child while holding her heavy carry on in one hand and a baby in the other.

My first reaction was judgment at how she was speaking with her child.

I took a breath and asked her if she needed help and she did not hesitate to say “YES”.  Her voice was still curt but and she said a quick thanks. 

There are opportunities every day to practice kindness even when the tendency is to judge.    Remembering that we are all human, doing the best we can helps us see beyond the behaviors of others.

The most powerful  practice (and toughest to attain) is to let go of any attachment to their response and treat the person you are helping with compassion, as another human being, no different from yourself.

If I had stayed in judgment or frustration of her behavior I would have felt tense and agitated.  When I choose to be kind, my state was calm and centered.   

Let me know in the comments below what your experience has been and how you feel when you practice kindness.

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