“No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.”
--Amelia Earhart
I’d like to share a story from the screen adaptation of North & South, a BBC presentation based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell.
In the story, the family has a servant named Dixon who has a bit of an attitude. She’s been with the family so long that she forgets her place and calls it how she sees it. She is fiercely protective of Mrs. Hale, the mother. Margaret Hale (the daughter and Heroine of the story) learns of her mother’s illness and is wounded by the knowledge that Dixon has long known about it and both of them hid it from her. Dixon then relates this story:
“I’ve known for a long time time how ill she is. And, though I don’t pretend to love her as you do, I’ve loved her better than anyone else in the whole world.
“I’ll never forget the first time I saw her. The young Miss Beresford. I broke a needle into my finger, I was so nervous…and she bound my hand with her own handkerchief.
“And then…when she returned from the ball….she remembered to look in on me. She changed the handkerchief for another one. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen…or seen since.”
During this revelation, Dixon is both teary eyed and solemn but her speech is interspersed with watery smiles. I relate this because it doesn’t have much relevance to the story as a whole (thus making it relatively spoiler-free since that’s what I’m all about) but because to me it had significant relevance for life.
We see a servant, a character we don’t like much and who is sort of obnoxious…and yet, we learn something about her that makes her lovely. This tiny insight into her past defined this woman’s entire life. She forsook family and personal freedom to follow and serve a woman who showed her one moment’s kindness.
Whether you use this principle in your writing or not, I hope you use it in your life. One moment’s kindness truly takes up so little time and yet its effect can be eternal.
All it takes is a moment.
All my best,
L.T.
9 comments:
I think that this is so true! One moment of kindness, even by a stranger, can make such a difference!
Have you been watching this without me??? We need to get together soon to watch this or one of the new movies that you bought :)
Yes. One moment of kindness is all it takes. If more people took the time to do one kind gesture daily, the world would be a better place.
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
Kristina, you're awesome! I don't know how you do it all but I love that you're here! (And I love the heck out of your blog!)
Lindsey! I'm so happy you've come to comment! You have a standing invitation (for eternity) to come over and watch movies with me forever! Come soon! XOXO
I used to have a teacher that called kindness "kindagious" because kindness is SO contagious. It doesn't take much.
I had a good teacher once, and long after the class was done, I decided to write her a note to simply thank her for being a great teacher.
She approached me later. She was absolutely touched by this simple act of kindness. Far more than I thought she would be. She even said that she was so touched that it made her consider continuing to teach another year instead of retiring as she had planned.
Small kindnesses mean a lot to people. And they're always worth the effort.
- Chas
http://chas.willowrise.com
Okay, so NOW I know who Thornton is--or I will once I watch this. I honestly thought North and South, which I have head of again and again, was about the American Civil war. Thornton, here I come!
That's a great principle. We should all be kind to each other... well, almost all... I'm just not 'that guy'...
As a writer, I think that's such a great insight into character development, too. It's interesting how one well chosen moment can make a character so much more real.
I must say that L.T. not only writes of acts of kindness but lives this philosophy everyday! Never before and never since have i met someone so enthusiastic to offer genuine kindness to others.I have been a recipient of this on many occasions and cannot thoroughly express my gratitude.
L.T. you are an inspiration and i will love you forever!!!
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