I write about this often even though I sometimes fail at following my own advice. I was talking about this theme of kindness (and suffering) with a dear friend today, in a serious conversation that seemed to cover a lot of ground but circled around this idea that we can never know what others are suffering.
We’ve all heard a variation of the quote often attributed to Plato, that we should be kind because everyone is fighting their own hard battle. True enough. It reminded me of this video I saw some time ago:
I wonder what a little bit of civility would do for people. A smile. A gentle word.
Listening.
The extraordinary act of making eye contact. I figure it can go a long way.
another cup of coffee 
I have a new word for thee… Thou art begodacious!
Wow! So simple really-but I fall short so often. Nice reminder!
Wow, Maria. Just…wow. Thanks for this.
So much on this theme, that takes so little time say “thank you” and “hello”. Pray for the person who cut you off in traffic. I will give a compliment – authentic – to a complete stranger. Some people will reject it and you’re right to others it could be the thing that carries them through. You can feel God’s love flowing when you open your heart.
You know what amazes me? How People rarely look at me in the eye at the Peace giving time (do you say it like that in English?) in the Holy Mass. Most of them do it as a chore.