I’ve been thinking lately about my visits to the KS community, about how much I enjoy coming here and about the different types of messages which are posted here. I like to participate in some way too as I feel that it’s only fair to give as well as to receive encouragement from all of you however, I’m often at a loss as to what sort of thing to share. Should I post a pretty picture of a flower, an inspirational quote or should I tell a kindness story?
When I first came to KindSpring I had recovered from depression and anxiety attacks, KS helped me to see beyond my immediate field of vision, and the inspirational stories of kindness renewed my outlook on life and the world in general. I had come from a period in my life which was pretty much summed up by these words from Tolkien which I read almost daily and often clung onto,
Frodo: “I can’t do this, Sam”
Sam: “I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are.
It’s like in the great stories, Mr Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it will shine out all the clearer.
Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding onto something.”
Frodo: “What are we holding onto, Sam?”
Sam: “That there’s some good in this world, Mr Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.”
I still love this quote. Even today as I re-read it for the hundredth time, it reminds me that we truly are on some sort of adventure. And it is something that we do need to be reminded of periodically, especially when the most heroic undertaking seems to be getting the children ready for school in the morning, or walking up the steps to work in an office every day.
It may seem an incredible feat of daring for King Arthur and his knights of the round table to be off fighting dragons most of the year and saving fair maidens, but show me just one of them who had to
finish work in the evening, come home and prepare the dinner, help with the children’s homework and put on a washing day after day after day!
It’s no surprise to me that I can’t think what to say when I come here, for how can we tell of our heroic deeds of a simple smile, a kind word, a hand -- held, deeds which we are already blessed with in the doing of? And we are sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of noise and tumult which the world’s media makes about events, sad and sorrowful as they are, the media would have you think that it is they that make the world go round, or that something other than Love (perfect, unconditional, blissful Love) is in control. And all the while kindness seems to go unnoticed and unsung, though as we all know, that is a long way far from the case!
As a couple of KS members have mentioned to me recently, it’s difficult to live the kindness, really live it, and at the same time see it as something to shout about or write about, not when it’s second-nature anyway. Or should I say, our true nature?
Anyway, I’ve said enough for today!
I once heard that “The purpose of friendships is to help one another grow and mature – sharpening us into who we never dreamed we could be.” So I thank you all for the friendship of the KS family.
When I first came to KindSpring I had recovered from depression and anxiety attacks, KS helped me to see beyond my immediate field of vision, and the inspirational stories of kindness renewed my outlook on life and the world in general. I had come from a period in my life which was pretty much summed up by these words from Tolkien which I read almost daily and often clung onto,
Frodo: “I can’t do this, Sam”
Sam: “I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are.
It’s like in the great stories, Mr Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it will shine out all the clearer.
Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding onto something.”
Frodo: “What are we holding onto, Sam?”
Sam: “That there’s some good in this world, Mr Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.”
I still love this quote. Even today as I re-read it for the hundredth time, it reminds me that we truly are on some sort of adventure. And it is something that we do need to be reminded of periodically, especially when the most heroic undertaking seems to be getting the children ready for school in the morning, or walking up the steps to work in an office every day.
It may seem an incredible feat of daring for King Arthur and his knights of the round table to be off fighting dragons most of the year and saving fair maidens, but show me just one of them who had to
finish work in the evening, come home and prepare the dinner, help with the children’s homework and put on a washing day after day after day!
It’s no surprise to me that I can’t think what to say when I come here, for how can we tell of our heroic deeds of a simple smile, a kind word, a hand -- held, deeds which we are already blessed with in the doing of? And we are sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of noise and tumult which the world’s media makes about events, sad and sorrowful as they are, the media would have you think that it is they that make the world go round, or that something other than Love (perfect, unconditional, blissful Love) is in control. And all the while kindness seems to go unnoticed and unsung, though as we all know, that is a long way far from the case!
As a couple of KS members have mentioned to me recently, it’s difficult to live the kindness, really live it, and at the same time see it as something to shout about or write about, not when it’s second-nature anyway. Or should I say, our true nature?
Anyway, I’ve said enough for today!
I once heard that “The purpose of friendships is to help one another grow and mature – sharpening us into who we never dreamed we could be.” So I thank you all for the friendship of the KS family.
2961 Reads
- Posted by patjos
- Aug 4, 2016
- Comments (18)
Readers Comments
Alisamom wrote: This is a wonderful post, I love it! I credit my recovery from depression solely to kind spring and everything I have learned and read here. Some days it's harder to be kind, and some days it's harder to write about being kind. The important thing is to just do it. And when you get discouraged, when you get tired, then you can still be kind to yourself until you rekindle that spark that enables you to be kind to others.
Alisamom wrote: Oh, and also, often I have a hard time writing about my raoks, but I look at it this way: I get so much inspiration here when others post about their acts of kindness, so maybe my posts will also inspire others to do a raok. That's why I share mine.
patjos wrote: Thanks for sharing Alisamom. makes it a little easier to share something now. And it'd be great to know how you all got here?
mindyjourney wrote: What a heart-felt delve into your dear spirit and thoughts, my friend <3. Appreciate your presence and support here. in our KS community. Thank you!
patjos wrote: Thanks mindy, right back at you, as they say! And yes, we are so very blessed, every moment we are!
debmeron wrote: you are at a loss of things to share??? I don't think so! you have posted a wonderfully wise story and shared of yourself... my suggestion... don't be so hard on yourself... you have much to share... thank you for doing so... Debbie from NJ, USA (& Israel)
speedyfrade wrote: I still need my meds, and help from my doctors, but slowly I'm changing that and I hope someday I can too se my depression far away in the past - and my Bipolar condition - ease with meditation, kindness, and a more natural way of living. I will need a huge dose of love: but I must spread the seeds now, so they can grow into the trees which will give me shelter in the future.
speedyfrade wrote: Ohh! I just share what i feel need to share. In those worst days I just read the posts, or just share a inspirational or lovely picture. Other days I post long stories, and amazing situations that I live through... and that I feel I should share with the world - never thinking if someone will read them: just share.
Mish wrote: Thank you for your beautiful open-hearted share, Patjos. We are all transformed by our sharing ourselves here. Sharing our journeys , our fears , our triumphs, our acts of kindness. Ours is a family of seekers, learning and growing together, we become our best selves and shine our collective light out into the world. Grateful for your beautiful energy that you share here 💕
patjos wrote: What can I say? Thanks for all of your shares and stories and kind words. It's gresat to hear from you all in
