Matt Hildahl: ‘We need kindness … more than ever’

As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Presently in our country, we are facing more change than ever in many different facets.

Unfortunately one of these is glaring: how divided we have become as a country due to political beliefs. I have seen friends and family affected negatively by actions of others, and it deeply saddens me. My hope is to change the direction we are heading by instituting the ripple effect and by simply focusing on exuding great character.

At the middle school where I teach, we have been focusing on developing character for the past four school years. Based on my work in promoting character education, I now pledge to do the following to positively effect change around me with the hope that my actions will spread, touch others and help make a difference.

This is my pledge: In pursuit of inspiring positive change, I will be patient with this process and committed wholeheartedly. When I make a mistake, I will respond with humility. In everything I do, I will strive to respect others, including their political beliefs, and it is my hope that they will return the respect by allowing us to spend quality time together, absent of politics. In my pursuit toward selflessness, I will give of myself to help others. If I unintentionally hurt others, I will seek forgiveness, and when I feel wronged, I will aim to forgive. I am making this pledge with great honesty as it has never been clearer in my observations that we need kindness in every way, more than ever.

My wife and I recently watched the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” We were greatly moved as we now understand that Mr. Rogers embodied all eight traits emphasized above. In the movie, Mr. Rogers reflects on being kind and said, “Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person?” Mr. Rogers added, “Love is at the root of everything – all learning, all relationships. Love, or the lack of it.”

If we all choose love, heed his advice, the ripple effect could take hold, and we could positively change our country. When faced with the question, what would you choose, I know what Mr. Rogers would say. What about you?

Onward and upward.