Dear Red Hot Mamas- August 2020

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: August 19, 2020

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato

“Do Unto Others As You Would As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.”

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

The mantra that I like to live with has always been “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  It requires showing empathy and truly feeling and caring about the suffering of others.

It requires that interactions with others be handled with kindness and perhaps even going the extra mile to be of help to anyone in need, even if it is a stranger.  It does seem to help us get through life a little easier, as people will acknowledge your behavior and will also treat you better.  That’s a great reward right there.  Your actions will make those around you happier.

So here are some practical tips to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”:

• Try walking in their shoes. Try to understand what it is like to be them and why they do what they do.  Try finding out what is going on under the surface.  There may be a story that explains their actions.  This, my friend, demonstrates true empathy.
• Practice kindness and compassion.  Kindness will bless you as much as it does the one you are providing kindness to.  There often is no separation between the giver and the receiver.  If you offer compassion, you understand what others are going through and can offer them help their suffering.
• Always think about how you would want to be treated if you were in their same situation.
• In the bounds of appropriateness, make people feel welcome and wanted.  Be friendly to other.
• Don’t ignore problems of others.  Try to be helpful without them needing to ask for your help.
• Listen while others talk.  It will help go a long way in helping to understand the needs of others.
• Find commonalities with you and the other person.  Avoid prejudice and criticism.  See each person as an individual human being even if they have a different background, color, age or gender than you and interact with them in a positive way.

In closing, I would like to bring to your attention  Gandhi’s  famous quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” When we are good to others, we’re making our little sliver of the world better and will make your life more enjoyable all around!

Good Health to You All,

Karen Giblin