Humanity, Personhood and Kindness

“To be known, to be heard, to have one’s unique identity recognized and seen as worthy.  It was a universal human desire I thought, as true for nations and peoples as it was for individuals.”  

A Promised Land by President Barack Obama 

Isn’t this a powerful statement? I love it! For me it speaks about what helps us stand strong - the sanctity of our humanity and personhood. 

This goes deeper than being a universal human desire. It’s a truth rooted in what causes us to feel secure and safe in ourselves: the validation of our humanity and personhood. This is what’s being affirmed about you and me when we’re known, heard, and have our unique identity recognized and seen as worthy. And in my opinion few things can ground, secure and empower the way being sure about who you are can.  

Apart from the gift of love, isn’t this the greatest and most powerful offering that we can give to each other? 

I don’t want to make your new year’s goals more complicated but add this one: to validate and affirm the humanity and personhood of others by simply being kind to them.

Kindness is never what is done, it’s simply why it’s done. It says that one is worthy because they received it, and another is worthy because they gave it. It recognizes mutual personhood and in doing so declares our indisputable equality. Kindness given means someone and their humanity have been seen and affirmed. It confirms that we matter.   

The power to give this gift is in all of us. That we do give it without limit or exclusion confirms the basic goodness within us.  

Eric