Practice Loving Kindness
My kids head off for school in a few days, my oldest in his last year.. For all of them it marks the ending of a fun and free summer, and the beginning of routines, structure, and practice. I’ve always used that end of summer, back to school energy, as a way to re-commit to my own routines and practices. More than a January new years resolution, autumn reminds me of the things I want to learn, commit to, and put into practice.
Some practices that I have been thinking a lot about lately are; community, inclusivity, tolerance, and kindness. We use the word community a lot at Hemma, and to us, it’s more than just a marketing catch phrase. At Hemma, community has always meant inclusivity — creating a space for everyone within our community, not just those within our familiar circles of comfort.
“Community is and must be inclusive. The great enemy of community is exclusivity. Groups that exclude others because they are poor or doubters or divorced or sinners or of some different race or nationality are not communities; they are cliques – actually defensive bastions against community.” M. Scott Peck
We have seen many examples of hate, intolerance, and exclusion this year, yet even as we may feel disgust towards people who openly express hatred and intolerance, it’s also important for each of us to reflect on the ways in which we may contribute — the small, day-to-day, unkind thoughts and actions we commit when we think no one is watching or listening. How do we combat these forces within our communities and within ourselves? For me it is a matter of commitment and practice. Whether it’s big or small the opportunities constantly present themselves. Hatred and anger, for oneself, or towards another, is not an emotion we can afford to indulge in.
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
Its the only thing that there’s just to little of,
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone,… Hal David
Practice loving kindness today.