Practice kindness all day to everybody and you will realize you’re already in heaven now.
—Jack Kerouac
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I am not sure what to do with these words from Jack Kerouac but I do like them and think they deserve to be passed along. I am a firm believer of kindness in all forms and believe that it is a pathway to a better life here in this world.
When I was waiting tables I found that my own attitude and demeanor often dictated how others responded to me. If I smiled and acted congenially, more often than not the person I was dealing with responded in the same manner. We are reactionary creatures and we instinctively respond according to the tone we encounter– rudeness with rudeness and anger with anger.
And kindness with kindness.
It’s our choice. If we can fight against our reactionary nature and choose to act and react with kindness, we can shape our world and then perhaps realize that a form of heaven might be within our grasp.
I have never had the faith or certainty of those who believe that there is an actual heaven waiting beyond this world. I would like to but I just don’t have it within me. So, for me, if there is to be a heaven it is something to be sought in the here and now. By that, I mean creating an environment that is honest, kind and gentle. A life that is peaceful and quiet–that would be heaven to me.
So, when you’re out there today and face rudeness and anger, make the choice to react in a gentler manner and be kind. Your world might be one small step closer to heaven.
This quote reminded me of a song from one of my favorites, John Prine. The title pretty much sums it up: He Was In Heaven Before He Died.
Redtree Times 
Total agreement, here. The simplest example is a smile. Smile at a grumpy old soul coming out of the grocery store, and if you can make eye contact, most of the time there will be a smile coming back. Kindness works the same way.
Not only that, we’re shaped by our own responses. Even if kind gestures aren’t reciprocated, they still have the power to shape us.
Of course I can’t help from adding this to your wonderfully true post!
Thank so much for the Glen Campbell song, Linda. I forget sometimes how much I liked his music over the years. One of the first 45 rpm singles I bought as a kid was of his song “Galveston,” a song with which I am sure you are well acquainted.
On Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 8:43 AM, Redtree Times wrote:
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