the inheritance of kindness

there is one thing my father taught me that i have never forgotten.

"no matter what happens, you must remain kind."

other people may be selfish. cruel. cunning in small and ugly ways. they may twist the truth and invent excuses to hide the insecurities they cannot bear to face in themselves.

but i am never allowed to become cruel in return.

i am never allowed to do something vile simply because someone else did it first.

and above all, i must never deliberately hurt another human being, or any living creature, just because the world has given me enough reasons to become someone who could.