In this quote from a letter to her Editor, Charlotte Bronte is reminding him that the only criteria he is allowed to utilize in judging her work, is that of an Editor to an Author…not a man to a woman. Charlotte Bronte in the mid 1800s faced the challenge of people putting her in a box and minimizing her work. She kept fighting, kept writing and her works have been published for nearly two hundred years.
Ever felt like people put YOU in a box? Because of the way you look, your age, or any other of your demographics? It doesn’t feel good, nor is it fair or right. The uglier side of this issue, is when have you done that to others? Maybe you made a judgement due to their word choices, eductions status, age, accent or job title. We all have prejudices which have unfortunately become a part of how we view the world; they are the lenses with which we judge and decipher our path. So no matter how ‘woke’ you may think that you are, ALL of us have prejudices and discriminate against others simply because we are human.
There is something we can do to combat these prejudices and undiscovered biases – kindness. When we treat people the way we want to be treated, we cannot help but override our inner lenses and approach other humans fairly. It may sound trite or even simplistic, yet kindness will overcome a multitude of sins. Looking people in the eye and acknowledging their humanity. Using words of kindness to give feedback or present a different idea. Giving compliments when we are feeling less-than, even sharing our bounty silently when others are in need. Kindness is a handshake, a welcomed hello, learning people’s names and using it, or even hailing a loud BRAVO! when they have done well. No gimmicks, no self serving references or turning the conversation to ourselves…just kindness.
Kindness is like discrimination in that is can be hard to accurately define and yet you know it when you see or feel it. What if today we all acted, spoke and behaved with kindness first BEFORE we sought self advancement? What if your next interaction was motivated by kindness rather than being right? And what it you actually looked a stranger in the eyes and smiled, just to know that today someone recognized them AND gave them the gift of acknowledgment? Kindness is free…and something we all need to freely give away. It needs to be the sole standard by which we all interact and behave…what a better world this would be.
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