Well, news say that Singapore Celebrates World Kindness Day.. I won't call it a 'celebration' cause there isn't any thing to 'celebrates' about.. Other than giving out Yellow Daisies to show your appreciation of the receiver's kindness shown to you, what's there to celebrates about, right? Thus, I won't call it 'Celebrates' World Kindness Day, but rather, Singapore is doing it part by joining together with the rest of the countries in the world to show a little appreciation to kindness.
However, interestingly (if there is such a word), Singapore really a society that appreciate kindness? Or is Singapore really a society that don't take nor appreciate kindness? Well, I won't say all Singaporeans are like this, and I'm sure that among the many heartlander folks, there can and have many little untold stories on how kindness had and were shown to others, but among the many competitive sectors and industries or job or environments, does our fellow Singaporeans really being unkind towards many? Here is one interesting articles from BlogTV.SG I came across that started me thinking and wanting to pen this down here in my own blog. While I can agree with the writer, Valentine, that in many part of the Singapore, there are competition and unfortunately, many Singaporeans are raised in such competitiveness culture or mentality, but I wouldn't say this applies across the broad to all Singaporeans. While many can site many negative examples on just how selfish and self-centered Singaporeans are and can be, I too, had encountered many such bad experiences and I also can quote you many such negative examples as well, but then again, I also can site many examples that are positive and good that shows that there are still many Singaporeans that can be kind and will do the act of kindness towards other fellow Singaporeans, or even foreigners.
To me, being kind to other, it's not just about being a value that one carries within him/herself, but it's also a nature that can be nurtured. The crux of the matter should be, appreciating and being thankful to those who had shown kindness to you. It won't harm a thing nor cause you to loose a hair by saying "Thank you", and please for goodness sake, don't ever think that the other party must show you some kindness, or give up a seat for you, or to help you with the heavy stuffs, or just to press the lift door open button when you are entering the lift, they are not oblige to, in certain sense, but when they do, please be courteous enough to say "Thank You".
Even within the corporate world, or even in a state department, or military organisation, while it is within the Superior's jurisdiction or authority to 'tell' (or order or instruct) your subordinates to do certain works for you, but I do believe that your subordinates will be more willing to help and put in more effort to do a better job for you when you, as superior or boss or commander can lower your pride a little by saying the magical word "please" instead of giving the kind of tone that says "I tell you to do it, you jolly well do it, I don't care how you do it, just do it!" and it certainly won't help at all if the superior say thing like "Don't tell me the problem, give me solution!". Then when the job get done, please.. it won't harm a thing nor cost you a cent to say the word "Thank You". In fact, by saying all these magical words, one can actually cause the subordinates to work even harder or putting in more effort to do an excellence job for you. Most of all, don't ever put down the effort or say things that demeans the effort that your subordinates had put in even if it's a job not well done. Even grown up adult, not just little children, needs a little appreciation to be motivated and encouraged.
An act of kindness, it's not always on the big thing that matter, but it is always the little things in life that we often taken for granted that matters to many, little words or 'remarks' that we at time easily let loose from our lips that can make a difference in somebody life. I guess this can also applies to relationship for couples and marriages as well.
Be Kind to one another, start from something small. Be thankful when someone show you kindness.
End of Coffee Talk.
Labels: BlogTV, Kindness, World Kindness Day, Yellow Daisies