Spreading JOY

This recent year has me pondering on relationships. Relationships of all kinds. There's those relationships with close family members (the ones we don't choose), relationships with our best of chosen friends (best choices ever), relationships with our acquaintances and relationships with those we don't really know. 

Years ago, my husband used to point out to me that we treat our own family members worse than we do people we do not know. Meaning that most of us are comfortable with our family members and they bear the brunt of our lack of patience, when we are hangry or stressed, or when we feel the need to correct them on certain behaviors we don't tolerate. We would save the best of ourselves for our friends and acquaintances, holding back our biting tongue and opinions, and presenting a good view of ourselves. We also would treat strangers kindly enough. My husband would lament that it was too bad we didn't reserve more of that kindness and respect for those we know too well. I think the average person could agree that improving relationships within the walls of our own homes would make a world of difference.

However, outside of our homes, the rise of social media has transpired over the course of several years and so has our lack of civility to strangers. We hide behind a name and belittle and argue with strangers or even those we know. The funny thing is, most of us aren't that cruel in person, are we? We really would not have the guts to be so forthright with our arguments. But the walls of social media have built up ever increasing walls within ourselves. We are less kind to strangers. As a society, we are trending to hang our identity on our belief system and shun those who believe differently. It causes us to be unkind to so many people just because they believe differently. This election year alone has been spewing hatred back and forth across the social network channels. 

Yes, we are different. We have different religions. Or no religion. Different political beliefs. Different lifestyle choices. Different ways we manage money. Different ways we raise our children. We are different and we are failing to see the beauty in that. There is beauty in choices and beliefs and opinions. 

Please join me in being an example in spreading good. In spreading kindness. In spreading joy. Our world needs it. Be a good person online and to someone's face. Let's show the world that we don't have to let diverse opinions and beliefs separate us. We could improve our relationships in our own homes and in the online world. I think spreading joy is much more satisfying than spreading hate. I'm going to make a deliberate effort to spread joy and the fun thing is, there are so many different ways to do so.