In This Unkind World, I Choose to Be Kind

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It was a holiday. 

However, having just returned from a ten-day break, I had some pending follow-up consultations and reports to attend to. 

After lunch, at the scheduled time, I called my secretary to check if any patients had arrived. Experience had taught me that while many insist on appointments, few actually show up on holidays. 

“There are just two patients, madam,” he informed me. “I’ll come now,” I replied. 

“Madam, Why don’t you wait? More people might come. Why do you want to waste your time?” he suggested. 

I warmed at his concern and said, “It’s not their fault that they arrived on time and followed discipline. Why punish them for being responsible?” 

I reached the clinic and saw my patients. As expected, there were long intervals of waiting, but I had no complaints. I used the time productively, catching up on other work. More importantly, I had done justice to those who had honoured their time and commitment. 

I chose kindness over convenience 

The world has transformed where self-interest has taken priority over kindness. Kindness is often looked down on as being weak and mistaken for being unambitious. 

 Kindness is never a planned activity, it is an intrinsic part of our being. 

 Last Sunday morning, I was getting ready with my team for my “ Neurology on Wheels. As we were starting, I noticed an elderly patient of mine getting out of the auto-rickshaw and looking pensively at the closed gate. His shoulders drooped and he was turning back. As I got out of the vehicle, I saw my secretary already by his side “ Tata, Please come in, Madam will see you. Next time please call ahead and avoid coming on Saturday and Sunday”. 

 I smiled.

Yes, kindness is indeed contagious.

A small act might go unnoticed, however, it makes the world softer, gentler, and ultimately more Human.

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