Kindness, Facebook & The Dark Side of Woo

You want to be a better person.

We all do.

(Okay, sociopaths, you’re right. Most of us do.)

I saw this on sign on Facebook yesterday.

While I lead with my heart, I tend to roll my eyes at stuff that goes out onto the warning track of woo-woo.

There’s nothing wrong with woo in moderation. Signs and little notes like this are like junk food for your heart.

A little bit makes life better, and – big picture – is probably good for you.

A lot of it makes you flabby and numb and senseless.

Dance like no one’s watching? Whatever, hippie. Get a job and earn those Leftover Salmon tickets.

I don’t believe all you have to do is sing and hope and happiness will come.

I believe you have to do the work, too. I actually think delaying gratification is a good thing in most cases.

All that said, I liked the fourth one.

Wait, that’s not quite right.

I loved the fourth one: Notice kindness.

I reeeeeeally like the idea of making a point of noticing kindness.

I’m a big fan of mindfulness – being in each moment fully.

If we can put down our smart phones and stop updating our own Facebook statuses for long enough to notice others and to recognize kindness in its many beautiful forms, we’ll all have an infinitely better week, don’t you think?

Paying attention – just this week – to what others are doing well and kindly and when they’re being all awesome … is that something you think you could like?

Oh, and PS – On Saturday, I read a great column about contentment from Leo Babauta at Zen Habits. You should read it. Today.