Thought For The Day – Thursday 9th October 2025
Kindness Wins
Looking after, and taking responsibility for, our mental health is important.
From: exercise to sleep; from routine to rest; from work to play; from good diet to hydration; from seeing the bigger picture to breaking things down into small steps, with good decisions; from being aspirational and being full are care; from speaking to listening; there is a very careful and caring balance to be achieved. And, as we were reminded this week, this includes our digital health and wellbeing too in our technological society.
Life is full of positive opportunities. But there are also challenges in life.
The latter was one of the first teachings of the Buddha as he contemplated compassion and suffering and his thoughtful and practical response to it.
“There is a time and season for everything”. For sure, there is a time to resiliently dig deep, keep going and show grit and determination. To keep calm and carry on.
But there is also a time to take a break and moment, personally reflect and share our concerns and emotions with others. This equally shows resilience.
Vulnerability is strength.
“A problem shared is a problem halved”. If our lives, and emotions, are represented by a fizzy drink, which is shaken, talking eases the top off gently. When we share a concern, a massive burden is lifted. We feel lighter.
When the tennis player Madison Keys won her first “major grand slam” tennis title earlier this year, aged twenty-nine, having turned professional aged 14, Madison credited counselling and talking with making a key difference. Talking about fears enabled her to play fearlessly, with her brilliant attacking style, in a most challenging route to the final and in a very difficult final itself. After various injuries in her career, and nerves in her last “major” final in 2017, this was a very different outcome. Through her challenges, Madison never lost her kindness and sense of humour. With her coach, Bjorn, also her husband, Madison, the founder of “Kindness Wins”, prepared on and off the court, laying the foundation for what would be an epic season this time last year. And, as the season began, Madison was at peace with her already outstanding career, even if the “major” was not won. A life in a match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLHgzih2Q4Y
Sometimes, we have to lose something to find it.
We must always remember that we are all beautifully unique, individual, and equally special, loved, and valued. Our personal story matters and makes, and can and will make, a positive difference to others.
We spread such kindness and love to others.
For we know that some people, families, and communities face particular challenges and need care, help, kindness, love, and support.
We notice and we reach out.
And then we notice and reach out again.
For, the greater the challenge, the more we double-down on the kindness and love.
We empower, encourage, empathise with and support.
Just like, that seemingly little, one item brought last week for the “Food Bank” can mean the world, so that seemingly little act or word of kindness can make all the difference.
This is “The Black and Gold Spirit”.
“Kindness Wins”.
