Sometimes we do extra kindness for people and they are not even aware of the efforts taken to do them. I'm not talking about random acts of kindness. I'm talking about repeated and targeted kindness. From keeping in touch, making them comfortable, easing their discomforts, to show them love, to let them know they deserve it, to share understanding of a better existence, for life's simple enjoyment, and many more.
Sometimes people don't understand why we bother, even arising in suspicions in their minds. But when we continue to do them, knowing we may not get praise, not motivated by other people's recognition and acclaim, not for reasons fuelled by our vested interests, when it is all about them and it is not about us, despite the kindness being "abused" or receiving negative responses... then we'd understand the spirit of giving.
Sometimes people don't understand why we bother, even arising in suspicions in their minds. But when we continue to do them, knowing we may not get praise, not motivated by other people's recognition and acclaim, not for reasons fuelled by our vested interests, when it is all about them and it is not about us, despite the kindness being "abused" or receiving negative responses... then we'd understand the spirit of giving.
Sounds to me like the story of misunderstanding, which mostly is caused by both ends: Incomplete information by the sender and incomplete analysis by the receiver. Ok, I must admit, that I am good for both ;-)
ReplyDeleteBtw: Posting from mobile worked fine this time using the Anonymous profile. Yippee, no need to type my stupid thoughts a second time for sending as FB message. Great, super!
ReplyDeleteWe use the word 'give' to mean many things, and one of its senses means to gift something to someone without expectation, but this in and of itself does not mean that gifting things without expectation (even if it is targeted, prolonged and well meaning) is necessarily a good thing, or somehow more 'in the spirit' of giving whatever that means. Giving in this way can be ignorant of people's needs, reckless, uninvited and have consequences, especially when either party has engaged in miscommunication and/or misunderstanding.
ReplyDelete-Pete :-)
I love that you make me think differently.
ReplyDelete