“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
I still remember my brain exploding when I first saw a T-shirt with that slogan on it. Such a simple statement and so brimming with meaning.
The words resonate with those of us fortunate enough to have had mothers who said, “You can be anything you set out to be.” And it’s true: Whatever the world throws at you, you can overcome and reach your goals with persistence and hard work.
But if you set out to be kind, you open up a whole ’nother set of possibilities.
Imagine a world where kindness is a virtue. Of course we’re already in that world, theoretically, but in practice the kind are constantly in danger of being steamrolled. The victory goes to the one who seeks it at all costs, the king of the mountain who races over everyone in his way and dies with the most toys.
What if the victory goes to the one who lends a hand, the one who seeks to lift all boats, the one who cares as much about how he wins as he does about winning itself?
What does it profit a go-getter if they gain the world but lose their soul?
In a world where you can be anything, be kind.
