Five years ago, I wrote this post about kindness. It had been a difficult year for many of us, as the spread of Covid caused fear and confusion, and there were many communities disrupted by illness, death and isolation. Although the impacts of the virus have lessened, our world is still full of fear and hatred. This isn’t the way I choose to live.
Last week, on 14th December, we witnessed the horrifying murder of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration on the beach at Bondi by two armed terrorists. An additional 13 people are still in hospital with injuries, many severe. All Australians were, and still are, shocked and appalled. This is not the type of society we want here.
I couldn’t possibly unravel the complexities of how or why this occurred. Today is a day of reflection, to honour the victims and all the others affected by the attack.
My original post, asking for more kindness in the world, still rings true. Divisiveness is not the answer to whatever grudges people may hold. Take a breath before saying nasty words about others or threatening them on social media. Treat people as you would like to be treated yourself. Show small acts of kindness in your life. It doesn’t take a lot to make these actions multiply and make our world a better place.