a culture of kindness
Photo by Renee Fisher on Unsplash
Dropping my son off at school this morning, I watched the headmaster greet kids with fist bumps and elbow bumps. I watch him say hello to the girl with the vest and doc martens as well as the sporty boy wearing school colors. I can tell he is smiling underneath his mask because his eyes are twinkling. This happens every single day.
Driving off, I am overcome by feelings of thankfulness for the warm welcome to the school day and that creating a culture of kindness and inclusion is of the utmost importance to the staff at his school.
This morning ritual of hellos and supportive pats on the back matter a great deal to me. It bellows: You matter. You are valued. You are welcome here. We are so happy to have you just as you are!
I can’t help but think about my own childhood. My mornings walking up to school were a far cry from what I witness when I drop off my son. I don’t recall the principal greeting us unless we had gotten into trouble and needed to see him in his office. I had a math teacher who shamed me in front of the entire class when I would look out the window. With a smirk, he would say, “There’s Lindsay in Tennessee again.” (I wasn’t in Tennessee or anywhere else for that matter, I just suck at math). My PE teacher routinely joined the cool kids and laughed at a boy in my grade who wasn’t athletic. It always left me feeling depleted, down, like I was in a bad after school special.
But today things are different. I am basking in the beauty of a gorgeous sunny blue-sky day. And I am still floating in the sweet memory of Amanda Gorman in that striking yellow coat and sparkly smile sprinkling magic and light around us all with her dancing fingertips, elegant words, and stunning presence.
Our words are powerful. And they matter immensely. Our words are sacred. And can lift others up or tear them down. They can incite violence and often do when there is a bully in charge.
But no more.
And look at how we are all talking about Amanda Gorman still. This is what happens when we hear, see, and feel light, love, and hope.
It creates a ripple effect.
And we all want to do better because we feel better.