Kindness…

‘Kindness don’t ask for much/But an open mind’ (Ryan Adams – Kindness 2011)

Well hello…feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve posted here! I’ve still been blogging as part of the day job but things have been a bit quiet on the T Recs front.

Fear not, there are a couple of posts in the pipeline that will hopefully see the light of day over the next week or so.

In the meantime I can report that recovery from the shoulder operation is progressing well – slowly but surely – and I’m hopefully on course to be sling-less within 4 weeks. Many thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to tweet, DM, text, e-mail and generally show support, interest and concern. The two fingered tweeting and blogging has been a nuisance and, to be honest, didn’t last long…just don’t tell my physio 😉

I can’t complain. Whilst I’ve been away from here there are people in my life (both offline and online) who have been suffering much worse than me, and to whom I have offered as much support as I can – a sharp lesson in however hard you think things are for you, there always people a lot worse off 😦

One of the things I love most about the online community that I am a part of, and which grows daily, is the generosity and kindness so often shown to those who need support, encouragement, help and guidance, and barely a week goes by without those on the receiving end of this kindness showing thanks – often by sharing gratitude on social platforms or else through a blog.

This was very well described by my friend Alison Chisnell on her most recent blog – in which she comments about the first blog from another of our friends, Flora Marriott:

“The other thing that struck me in reading Flora’s first post was the great way that she described her network – vibrant, full of varied, precious friends and family, people she loves and respects, people who she helps and who help her. That reminded me of the general fabulousness of the people that I am privileged to have become friends with through ConnectingHR and Twitter, as well as those who I have met through more conventional means”

The best definition of ‘kindness’ that I’ve found – the act or the state of being kind, being marked by good and charitable behaviour, pleasant disposition, and concern for others – shows why it is not only a virtue but also seen as in some cultures as a value.

It certainly seems to be a value in most of the online communities that I am a part of – is it a value in enough of our businesses? Can kindness be a corporate value?

The quote at the start of this blog is from a song by Ryan Adams. As well as easing myself back in to the blogging saddle, this week sees me back in gigging saddle too – I’ve got two gigs, and first up is Ryan Adams.

He’s an artist I’ve followed and loved since his first band Whiskeytown, and who I have seen live at various times during a varied and prolific solo career which has taken in 6 solo albums, 5 albums with his backing band (The Cardinals) and books of poetry and short stories. He displays all the elements I like in an artist – maverick, idiosyncratic and often ignoring commercial viability. I love his various record label battles and the way he gets his more esoteric stuff released in the end.

His most recent album, Ashes & Fire, is a more introspective and downbeat record yet still with some uplifting moments. The quote at the start of the blog, and inspiration for this piece, is from one of these tracks – Kindness – and you can hear it below… hope you enjoy!