A Child's Impression Of Kindness

Be Happy To Each Other And Keep On Keeping On Ethan, my number three grandson, said to us several ago when we were at his home, “Be happy to each other.” He must have thought his Grandpa and his Grammie were speaking a bit loud to each other. He may have thought we were arguing and we were just discussing something. This is an amazing thought for a young child to vocalize at his age. His understanding of people is completely very mature for his age. We can all use that phrase in our unions with other people whether it be in ballroom dancing situations or just in every day life. Too often these days, people are rude to each other just about everywhere. In my day, mom would say if you cannot say anything nice, say nothing at all. This is how we were brought up. We respected our elders and even if we disagreed with them, we said nothing. Perhaps, it is better to be able to say something, if you disagree with someone, but say it with respect and decency. I was at a dance competition in about 1982 where a competitor who lost was so upset, she started to cry and question why she had not won the event. I was there as an observer and I thought her actions were not as proper as they should have been at such an event. However, when I did not win an event, I held myself responsible and acted with more grace. Then months later, when I did win five out of eight events, I also acted with poise and honor. To me this was how one should behave. I was in a hair salon a while back and two ladies were arguing who was next with the hair stylist, even though the first woman had an appointment at that time and the other lady's appointment was next. They sparred a bit and then the stylist told the ladies to cool it. One was perturbed and went sulking to the back of the room. There was no need for this controversy. It was only a twenty minute wait and neither woman was young enough to have to go and pick up their children from school or anything like that. They were elderly women whose husbands were waiting for them in the front of the salon, where people waited for the customers they had brought there in the first place. It seems the one woman was looking for trouble, as the kids might say. The hair stylist solved it because she was in charge of the situation and she held the cards as to who was going to be next. Be happy to each other and you will feel happier yourself, because you have not insulted anyone or hurt anyone’s feelings and therefore you will be a more respectable and virtuous human being. Sometimes the feeling you retain from being decent and happy in your attitudes is more important than doing something to offend another person. Valerie Harper, the actress with inoperable cancer, said recently after being eliminated from the lineup on Dancing With The Stars, that you “have to keep on keeping on.” So little Ethan in his young mind, had wisdom and morals; knows that if someone is arguing, raising their voice unnecessarily, or just being grumpy, they will be happier when they are happy to each other. Bravo little Ethan, my darling, smart, handsome and wise little one, keep on expressing your feelings and show us grownups, we will be more erudite individuals in listening to you. Someone once said “wisdom is the soul’s natural food.” As little Ethan said to be happy to each other, we can behave honorably to others in tricky situations. We will have the wisdom in our soul to make these decisions. We will be more than joyful, we will be overwhelmed with the kindnesses we have spread and in return someone will be extra kind to us. About forty-nine years ago, I had the owner of a furniture company come out to my home to check over the layout of the bedroom furniture in the master bedroom. I was thinking of getting another piece from his furniture store. He was a lovely man whose name was Mr. Shiller and I had purchased all my furniture from him when I married except for this bedroom set which I found somewhere else and loved. He came over, advised me what to do and that there were enough pieces in the room already and therefore I need not buy anything else from him or anyone at the present time. I offered to pay him for his time and his advice, since I was not giving him a new sale. He said to me “I am doing this for you and you think it a nice deed, I want no money for my advice, only you in turn, do something nice for someone else and no fee there either.” He said “one good turn will develop into many good deeds and this is all I ask from you.” He was a very wise man and I never forgot those words. So little Ethan and Mr. Carroll Shiller are lined up together and their dual philosophy is that we will function better and happier if we are kind to one another. Be happy to each other and the happiness will compound into a happy soul. A lady emailed me when she read this article which was published several years ago, that he was her uncle-in-law. He was married to her mom's sister. She lives in Connecticut and she happened upon my story. She said she was so happy to hear all of my story and this was the kind of man she knew when she visited her aunt and him. Be happy to each other and keep on keeping on. elita sohmer clayman (2) comments elitasc Nov 16, 2013 7:35am David Arthur Liddle commented on your article "Keep On Keeping On" in Elita's Senior World: Good stuff. Thank you. I hope that you opened some eyes. Severna Park,Md. dancing9 dancing9 Nov 2, 2013 4:03pm This story is very uplifting as is all of Elita's stories. I look forward to her next article because I know that I will feel good after reading it; and it will get me to think about a positive action that will help people. She is certainly a very motivated person and is an excellent role model for those of us who maybe think we can not contribute much any more. Keep writing Elita Like Comment Share Comments Elita Clayman Write a comment...