Human KIND

  • Missions
  • Kindness Revolutionary
  • LOHK
  • Go Forth
  • Blog
  • About
  • Birth
  • Mural

revolutionary kindness asks...

December 06, 2016 by Patience Salgado

Kindness is not doing acts to appease our guilt or to try to prove our goodness, Revolutionary Kindness asks us

...to be bold in our resistance to what we know is not right/true for our fellow humans

...to be honest with each other and ourselves about the state of our nation (and hearts) and the ways we have individually contributed

...to be willing to be uncomfortable while we learn the nuances and implications of our white privilege

...to keep trying when we get it wrong

...to be quiet and listen to the groups of people who have a different skin color, religion, sexual orientation and abilities.

...to be ridiculously bold in our belief of the power of empathy and kindness

...to act, to serve, to give- not because we are good people, but because we *know* and deeply feel our own humanity...and know just how much we need each other and how much we need kindness ourselves

...to believe that kindness can change or touch something when no one else around you can see or believe it

...to take kindness to places where none seems to exist, or to seek and discover it in the unimaginable

...to try, just try kindness as a way of understanding the world and yourself

...to offer what we have and nothing more, not to save the world, not to fix, but to follow our call as humans- the outcome is not our business

This kindness humbles you, makes you fierce, stretches you in ways you didn't see coming, checks you, heals you, reveals your biases, comforts, disturbs, empowers, surprises...it changes *you*.

December 06, 2016 /Patience Salgado
1 Comment

kindness, now more than ever...

December 06, 2016 by Patience Salgado

November 9th- There is a kind of instinctual fear that comes from deep in your gut, it warns you and sometimes even protects you...it asks you to fight or flee...and the thing is, we are all different. So many threats loom against our hearts, our health, our security, our honor, our rights for some of us to simply be. 

Some of us will now run to the front and fight fiercely, others will run to the safest place they can find, some have already fought long hard battles and know how to stand, come what may... but no matter what your heart tells you to do or how to respond, I know this...
*we will need kindness now more than ever*
- a deep, deep intentional kindness to band around each other, to hold each other close, to protect the most vulnerable, to provide respite for the warriors, to let the most beautiful human parts of our selves find each other in the darkest fear. 

...and we can start small my friends. Invite your neighbor over for coffee/ tea this morning, send a text of LOVE to our LGBTQ friends, make a donation to Black and Latinx organizations/nonprofits, pray for a Muslim family, drop soup and bread on someone's doorstep, be extra kind to every checkout person you encounter who will no doubt be on the front line of every emotion today, drive like your baby was in everyone else's car, take someone out for a beer, light candles, ask someone older to tell you a story, make worry boxes with your kids, do a little extra at work to relieve someone else, be so tender with all your sadness and worry that you feel. 

Our hope lies in our shared humanity rising...in compassion rising, in empathy rising, in kindness rising- nothing can touch that. 

For years I had this candle on my kitchen table and it held my thoughts/worries, my kids, friends, various people that came through our door, even strangers- it was the one thing I did when I had no idea what else to do....today the candle is lit for you. You are welcome to leave your worry in a comment here or text me at (804) 426-2357- I will write it on the paper for you, for your loved ones, even if we've never met. You can also share one kind act you plan to do today. 

I love you, each and every one of you...and I believe in kindness like never before, I believe in a divine togetherness, I believe in us.

 

December 06, 2016 /Patience Salgado
1 Comment

superhero sized celebration...

June 26, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"I feel like a superhero AND famous for love..." -Lyra, age 6.

I guess when you are armed with glow sticks, beads, a rainbow flower crown, cape AND candy necklaces to hand out this would make one feel like a superhero on every level. We traipsed around our city on our small kindness mission of joy and love, so grateful for this day...for all the people who made millions of decisions, acts and sacrifices to land our country here.

"I think there were so many superheros here baby, so many people worked so hard and gave ALL of their hearts to make this day happen." I said. 

Her face wrinkled and still can not comprehend that anyone could not marry who they want to, love who they want to...that people died for simply being. While she listens to many a lecture and story, I am so relieved that she will barely remember the world before this day. But she will have her own fight...for the rights of her trans friends,  for all the everyday discrimination that still exists for the LGBTQ community, for the 40% of homeless youth that identify as LGBTQ...for the world to honor all human kind. 

But today, we celebrate and she lets this great joy sink way down deep...the bliss of a love acknowledged and glow sticks shining bright into the night. 

*

A kindness mission for us all: 

 

We put a red heart on our door to celebrate the SCOTUS decision with our beloved friends! Want to join us?! You can hash tag all door heart pictures with #lovewins and #guerrillagoodness on Instagram/Twitter or share your pics on the Guerrilla Goodness Facebook page. Wouldn't it be lovely to have doors of love at every turn? 

Hope you are celebrating with those you love and hold dear tonight! 

 

June 26, 2015 /Patience Salgado
Comment

neighbor love...

April 22, 2015 by Patience Salgado

What do you love most about having neighbors?

"You have someone to look up to...yeah, and someone to not be bored with.."

Lucy and Xavier, age 9

 

April 22, 2015 /Patience Salgado
Comment

the kindness elders...

April 22, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"Kindness heals, you know. You can't have hate and kindness in the same room, at some point, one's gotta go."

-Rosa Jiggetts, kindness pioneer

We try to meet every week, some days I just wish we were neighbors so I could sit at their kitchen tables in the wee morning hours lingering too long over tea and truth. Karen and Rosa are my kindness elders. There are more stories in their little pinkies than I have in my whole body...stories of service, holding neighborhoods together, caring for the dying, loving the misunderstood, holding space for people to grow and learn,  empowering the forgotten, believing in a city, deep and wise compassion, rooted faith and trust...these women RVA, are your kindness elders. 

There are more stories to come on Human KIND from their lives and call, but also opportunity. Rosa spent the last 12 years requesting and securing a city ordinance in RVA for Be Kind Wednesdays. Every Wednesday every citizen is asked and encouraged to do one act of kindness or an hour of volunteering.

After that she decided she'll work on Obama and call the UN...these women are a force. More to come but for now, citizens of the human race, will you do an act of kindness today? 

If you do and would like to share a picture on social media, please tag it #bekindRVA or #bekindworld and you can follow along on Be Kind Wednesdays on Facebook. 

  

 

April 22, 2015 /Patience Salgado
Comment

a bowling family...

April 17, 2015 by Patience Salgado

 

"Guys, I think we are becoming a bowling family", Lyra (age 6) said.

She's right, she's totally right. I seriously did NOT see that coming. We went on a whim one afternoon during spring break after a week of parent guilt due to ignoring children to do 57,000 house projects. 

We rolled up on a Friday at 2:00pm to an empty lot and went inside.

It was as if the world had stopped in 1979- nothing, not one thing has been changed since then. The playlist was ridiculously awesome, so much so that dancing was required between turns. The shoes were older than God. They serve Mr. Pibb and curly fries. Trash talking that no one was able to back up flowed... along with skeptical teenagers quickly won over by the sheer cheesiness of everything. 

...and it turns out we are terrible at bowling, no one broke a 100... but I don't think anyone actually realized this because we played with bumpers and no one knows anything about bowling anyway. I don't even think anyone cares*. 

Can I tell you how wonderful it is to be awful at something, together, with the people you love most?  It is some sort of new togetherness nirvana. 

I think the world needs a whole lot more of that kind of togetherness, the kind where our environments rearrange our expectations, where we are taken outside of ourselves, where winning has a new definition...the kind where you walk out and proudly proclaim,

"We are a family of bowlers."  

 

*except Jack, Jack really cares, so just look for him on the pro tour some day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 17, 2015 /Patience Salgado
Comment

wounded and full...

April 15, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"How is your heart?" I texted, knowing her great loss is still so new. 

"My heart is wounded but still full of love."

Maybe that is the wonder of the heart. 

 

 

April 15, 2015 /Patience Salgado
2 Comments
deacon love-64.jpg

her rainbow baby...

February 23, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"When I look back at my pictures...and I really think about Deacon's birth, strong and clear feelings really stand out. I vividly remember all of the sudden stopping in the middle of labor and telling Nancy (the midwife) that I needed someone to light Norah's candle when the time was close.

I think it's because I needed her with me. 

A lot of days when I feel overwhelmed with these three kids, like I can't possibly do it anymore...but then I am struck with love that I push through. I think that's why Norah came to us and then left us...because without the pain of losing her, I don't know that I would be able to see through the chaos and stress to love this baby boy as much as I do. 

That was her gift to me. I feel as though I gave birth to two babies that day." 

-Jacquelyne Waters, mama to Camdyn, Jackson, Norah and Deacon

February 23, 2015 /Patience Salgado
Comment

the midwife...

February 23, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"I don't know, I just thought maybe we should anoint the babies...to ground them here on earth and bless them."

February 23, 2015 /Patience Salgado
Comment

the inventor...

February 23, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"It was always about people, just trying to help people...that's how it all began. We were put here for a purpose to work together and be good to each other. People quickly learn to love one another. If you can learn how to truly love, it would be a different world. "

My dear friend Maat Free shares Mr. Harvey's story of inventing The Afro Master comb and running Harvey's Barber Shop downtown for over 50 years in the current GRID issue.  Pictures by me.

February 23, 2015 /Patience Salgado
1 Comment

the cowboy

February 23, 2015 by Patience Salgado

"It took me a long time, but I found my way back to God. He has me, it's alright now, I lean into Him." Cowboy said as he sat waiting in the food pantry line.

"But how did you find that in the struggle? How do you feel that way?" I inquired.

"He gave it to me, He gave me that faith...and I just hold on." he replied. 

"Yeah, but..." I interrupted and then stopped. Cowboy smiled and continued.

"You see, it's the one thing the world can never give you and the one thing the world can never take away from you."  said with a quiet assurance while he waited for his turn for food. 

"That is profound." I said and then we were quiet because that kind of wisdom deserves to held in silent reverence. 

(story shared with permission) 

If you would like to donate or help at The Food Pantry, you can reach the kind folks at St. Thomas Epsicopal here. 

 

February 23, 2015 /Patience Salgado
1 Comment

Powered by Squarespace