Thoughts on “Kind”

Not too long ago I, I received a gift of desert mineral crystals from kalahari, and much to my surprise, I found this little stone in the package with the crystals . . .   

At first I read the word "kind" as the German word "Kind", and then I began to muse on the many different connotations of this beautiful word.

The German word "Kind" means "Child", and my first thoughts were that we should allow the child in each of us to come out, to get to know our inner child. Then I realised that the word was probably "kind".

"Kind" as in be kind to others, kindness, and the gentle adjective, "He (or she) is kind." As in being of a good and benevolent nature. Gracious. Compassionate. Gentle. Tender.

In Old English "kind" also meant being natural, what we would call today "authentic."

"Kind" also means a class or group of individual objects. This is the same kind of thing. Objects that are kindred in nature, kin to one another. And "kin" also means "family" or "related to".
We also say, "kind of" when we want to show similarities in thoughts, feelings or objects. And we say, "to repay in kind" if we want to give someone something similar to or the same value as something they have given us.

There are certainly other, more archaic meanings for the word "kind", but for today, I would simply like to leave you with this thought:

Allow yourself to be kind, generous, gracious, gentle, tender and benevolent. Allow yourself to find similarities with other people, so that you can sense how closely related you are. And last but not least, find your inner child and allow it to look at the world with wonder and love. Be yourself. Be authentic. You are one of a kind!