December 27. “The end result of kindness is that it draws people to you.” (Anita Roddick)

There are some people who just have magnetic personalities. Their charisma is so strong that they draw people to them. There are some people that you just want to be around because you feel better for having spent time with them.

There can be many reasons why this is true. Some may make me laugh. Some make me think. Some challenge me – either by their words or their deeds – to be a better person. But one thing that I think they all have in common is their kindness. Not just their kindness toward me, but their kindness in general. When I am around people who exude kindness, I always want to be a better person, and I want to be around that person more.

On the contrary, when I am around people who are constantly gossiping and grousing, it tends to bring me down. I soon find myself pulled into the maelstrom. Almost without realizing it I become judgmental, and I stride right into the gossip. Afterwards I feel badly. I don’t like to be in that spot, and yet it is sometime so alluring to be there. When this happens I find myself in need of being around truly kind people to pull me back up.

Today my reflection is on kindness, and surrounding myself with kind people.