February 24, 2021
That’s a wrap! Connectivity 2021 comes to a close
February 22, 2021
McMaster logo
McMaster logo
I receive a number of regular email newsletters each day. Sometimes I have to automatically hit ‘delete’ to simply stay ahead of the sheer volume of email I receive. Still, I choose to continue to receive these regularly because I have found value or wisdom from them in past and hope that I may find some nuggets when I can take the time.
Over the weekend, which does often provide extra time for reading, one of these regular email musings included something I had read before but was compelled to read again: “It’s harder to be kind than clever” and then shared the original source of the story in which this quote was captured. You may have read it before, too, however it hit me as a good refresher and kept me thinking…
The quote is part of a larger speech that focuses on the issues of Choice – decision making and its impact on the direction our lives will take us. The act of kindness is a choice that we are faced with each and every day. The choice to be kind can happen frequently every day, and each act of kindness is a small granule that can build up over time and result in major changes in the way we experience our days, weeks, months and years. This is true of all choices, and kindness in particular is a choice that can have a very far reach.
Kindness isn’t something we often think about consciously as we go through our daily actions, and yet it is a quality or feeling that is a deep knowledge in all of us. We are so very appreciative and grateful when people share with us an act of kindness. It hits us mentally and emotionally. Interestingly, we may not always consider how we can have that same impact on others as well. It is a gift that we can give, and it can keep on giving. And the real magic is that in giving to others through small acts of kindness, we give back to ourselves. It feels good to be kind.
When we are at work we often consider that our intelligence or being ‘clever’ is what really matters. Competencies and knowledge are definitely important elements as we contribute to our activities, in our teams and organization. And yet, our ability to evaluate when it is more important to be ‘kind than clever’ will provide us with real traction for moving forward our initiatives and relationships. The work we do is sometimes hard, and being kind to each other can help us to accept the challenges we face and stay positive together.
I searched ‘Kindness’ and ‘Ted Talk’ and found this really lovely presentation that I want to share with you so you can contemplate your own ability to make choices about kindness, and to pay it forward to others.
That is how I see IT today! Have a great day everyone.
gg
February 24, 2021
February 22, 2021