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The One Thing I Agree With J.R.R. Tolkien On
There were many but this stands out above all the rest
J.R.R. Tolkien said some profound things during his lifetime.
- “Not all those who wander are lost.”
- “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
- “Courage is found in unlikely places.”
I agree with each of his statements. However, there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
It’s so simple and so beautiful and so true. And I am always amazed at the power of a smile from a stranger, a hug from a friend, or a random compliment in the street.
These moments can be uplifting, nourishing, and at times, life-saving.
Robin Williams captured this best when he said:
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”
From the day I first heard this, it stuck with me because of my own struggles with mental health. On the outside, I looked perfectly fine but I was battling demons inside.
Whenever I received small acts of kindness during those moments, it felt like I could survive another day.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case for everyone. Nothing highlights this more than the haunting story of a man who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge.
Before he left his apartment, he famously posted: “I’m going to walk to the bridge. If at least one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”
No one did and an hour later, he was found five hundred feet below where cars were speeding to and from the city.
It’s stories like these that inspire me to be a positive influence in the world.
So I continue to do small acts of kindness whenever I can.
Here are a few that I try and incorporate into my weekly life:
