Self Kindness? WTH?

Well, this is different.  I usually just post thoughts and ramblings that I come up with no necessary cue...just the uttering of a possibly unstable mind rattling around within my skull.  Hey, I am totally cool with the instability as long as it keeps remembering to breathe in and breathe out as well as shower daily.  :)

However, today I cracked open a book.  Gasp!  I know that I am not an avid reader, and should be because I really enjoy reading.  Yet, rarely do I read.  I am happy to say that when my friends publish books, I tend to make sure that I pick those up and read them.  Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of friends who make a habit of publishing their works.  I do have two exceptions.  Dr. Nancy Allen, who has some of the best mystery novels EVER and Dawn Witte, who is the subject of this post.  In fact, a number of posts to come. 

Some background on Dawn.  Many years ago I was at a CASA conference in Anaheim, CA.  I was at the bar and sat next to this beautiful young woman.  She and I struck up a conversation about politics, of all things.  I found her to be intelligent and engaging.  It was a natural connection and I knew then and there we were meant to find each other. 

Fast forward a few years and I have watched as she has created an amazing organization, the Desire to Inspire Foundation, and shared her love and talents all across the globe.  I have seen her presence in Africa and observed as she has opened up her heart to so many people who just need to know they are loved.  She is a true inspiration to me and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to call her my friend.

Now, with all the background out of the way, I want to share about her newest book.  I just received it yesterday off Amazon and decided that today I would begin to read it.  It is called Recipes for Being - The Power of Seven.  I guess you might call it a self-help book, but I would rather call it an inspirational cookbook...which is amazing, considering I do not enjoy cooking food.  Bring on the mindful culinary instruction!

After reading the forward, I realized that this was a multi-day read.  Seven days to be exact.  After reading the first chapter on self-kindness, I said, "what the heck?" and thought I am going to have to blog about this.

Last night and this morning I took time to re-read all of my blogs from the past 7 years.  Interesting that number keeps coming up.  I read what my 33 year old self had to say and, I must admit, past blogger Matt was pretty spot on in most instances.  There were some things I didn't remember, and a few moments that I made myself tear up.  A number of the entries were about kindness and how I truly appreciated the kindness around me.  Then I read the first chapter of this book.  I realized that I have often depended on other's actions to bring me joy and positive self-worth.  I have tried not to beat myself up when I do things that are not ideal.  I have become better at it, but had not given the action much thought.  Now...I am going to have to take a deeper look into this.  Self-kindness IS important, because if we cannot be kind to ourselves, how can we really know how our kindness internally impacts others?  And when we are not able to be kind to ourselves, is what we are giving to others sincere? 

I tend to believe that I am sincere in the ways I am kind, but as with all things, I am aware there is room to improve.  My sister has told me that she journals at that it is beneficial to her...that counseling degree paid off, Misty.  However, I have not taken time to do so myself.  Not listening to the little sister is usually an act of futility, but I manage to do just that on occasion.  Today I am going to give a test drive. 

I am also going to work on closing my personal complaint department.  I am, instead, going to re-brand and open a suggestions and solutions department (didn't make that up myself...totally in the book).  I will have to make everyone aware of this around me, but I believe that re-framing the negativity in a way that allows for positive reactions will free up some more of my mind to be open to self-kindness and also make me a better person to give away kindness. 

Here I have only skimmed over the one small chapter, but really do encourage everyone to consider checking the book out.  I know that after my first of seven chapters I am excited to see where the book is going to lead.  The next chapter on gratitude is exciting already.  Reminds me of Oprah and her attitude of gratitude, and I loved that!  I guess we will just see what the next chapter brings!

Until Next Time
BE Kind

Matt