How to Build Your Post-Pandemic Kindness Habit in 5 Days
Don’t forget to grab your keys, mask, and an extra dose of kindness when you head out post-pandemic; and while you’re getting dressed, drench yourself in the joy that we’ve come this far. I also ask that you remember you aren’t returning to normal. “Normal” and what you thought that was, is no more.
Too much has changed for that to happen.
Remember, too, that while you’re counting your lessons, exchanging quarantine stories, and gabbing about a newly discovered hobby, find time to pause and reserve a quiet moment to honour the 3.7 million humans on our planet who didn’t get so lucky.
Why? You survived a pandemic.
You are actually one in seven billion earthling’s who survived this thing, and we didn’t have to fight a war; we had to fight our own internal wars, and duel and dance uncomfortably with our daemons at home (if we were lucky enough to have a roof over our head). We also got to learn, work, shift, cry, journal, yoga, you name it, while everyone else died.
Again, you survived a pandemic. And now we have a universal job to do — remember to be kind — if not for you, then for someone you love (and if you can’t relate to any of what I’m saying, you may need to keep yourself in lockdown a little longer). If you need a kindness refresher (we all do), check out this 5-day plan to help build your post-pandemic kindness habit.
How to Build Your Post-Pandemic Kindness Habit in 5 days
Day 1: Pause & Honour
Take your thinking cap off. Stop thinking about all the extra stuff that you’re thinking about right now. Put your feet on the ground, and place one hand on your heart. Take a breath and dedicate this moment to someone who died of COVID-19. Why? Pausing helps you ground and connect with humanity. Take this time and repeat as needed.
Day 2: Name It
Get a piece of paper or sticky note and grab a pen. Think about your personal pandemic highs and lows. What was a positive life lesson for you that you will always treasure; and what was your name-it or call yourself out moment? Write them down. Post it on your fridge or bedroom door. Leave them out so you don’t forget the deep reflective work you’ve been doing this year. To forget would be a disservice.
Day 3: Practice Kindness
Before you leave your cocoon, practice kindness. Walk around your living room, kitchen, bathroom and say “thank you” or “nice to see you” or “how are you? to any object that catches your eye. Practice opening the door for your cat or dog and say “please, after you!”. If you don’t have a pet, talk to your imaginary friend Fred. Smile up at the ceiling or at something on the wall, and maybe practice eye contact in the mirror for 10 seconds. Over the course of the day, you’ll notice that you are starting to treat yourself with more kindness.
Day 4: Take A Short Kindness Walk
Say a little prayer or set an intention before you step outside. Find your feet on the ground and give thanks to what surrounds you before you leave your house. Silently say “thank you” to the trees, clouds, cars, leaves or whatever on your block. Thank these objects quietly. Ask them how they are. Tell them it’s nice to see you here today. Then go back home.
Day 5: Lead with Kindness
The previous 4 days have been opening and reflective. Now it’s time to take those same practices with you as you interact with the world. Keep your space, open a door, say “thank you”, acknowledge your footsteps, find an object to thank. If you aren’t being met with the same kindness, that’s okay — not everyone has done this 5 day Build Your Post-Pandemic Kindness Habit yet.
Re-emerging is bringing up a lot for everyone right now. Mixed feelings of joy and trepidation are dizzying. That’s why practicing these 5 steps to kindness post-pandemic are important now more than ever, and not just for you, but for your kids, too! In fact, if we don’t teach our kids kindness now, we may find ourselves totally stuck in the worst pandemic of all —the pandemic of hate.
So, let’s lead with kindness. As survivors of this pandemic, it’s the least we can do.