HOW TO PLANT EMPATHY IN OUR BACK GARDEN: A gentle guide to cultivating kindness, even when the world feels upside down

Photograph, Aaron Burden, Unsplash

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Shut off the news.

We have seen enough.

The summer solstice has passed,

And the slant of the earth tilts downward.

Listen to the mournful, repetitive coo of a pigeon

And let the tears flow,

Cleansing, soothing.

But take heart; we will not plant despair.

We will raise the corners of our lips,

Find our strength

In the quiet power of our kindness,

Because,

We ARE the world.

We will open our lungs to cool mornings,

Bellow “hello”!

We will smile and wave at our neighbours,

Even if (as yet) they have never acknowledged us,

Even if (as yet) they do not strike us as "our type".

As tempting as it is,

We will not mount our high horse.

High horses always rid themselves of the smug and self-righteous.

Instead, we will saddle our most honest horse,

The one we have today,

And ride gently forward.

We’ll plod and plant.

We’ll till and bake

We’ll stitch and speak.

We will help each other onward

And smother the flames of cruelty

With the slow steady glow of resolute kindness.

😌 

With love and grace,

Francesca xx