Do you have a habit of being kind?

Think about the most moral person that you have met. What characteristics do they have? When you compare them to other good people, what characteristics do they all have in common? If you are like the vast majority of people, you thought of kindness as one of those characteristics.

For centuries, people have agreed that a good person is kind. This is one of the several “virtues” that Aristotle names as being a part of the good person's character. He goes on to say that one kind act does not make a person kind. Instead, we must practice kind acts until being kind is a part of our nature — a habit — and we automatically respond with kindness in the appropriate circumstances. According to Aristotle, practice is the only way to become kind or to develop any of the other characteristics that a good person exhibits.

This still seems true today. A kind person is one who performs kind actions automatically. To behave in an unkind manner would be out of character. Also, we would not call someone who is regularly unkind a good person. So, if we have the desire to be the best person we can possibly be, consciously doing kind actions until we automatically respond with kindness is how we begin to achieve that goal.

Unlike Aristotle, I believe that many people are kind. If we pay attention, we will see kindness every day. Unkind acts may draw our attention more and make the news more often. This causes many people to worry that we are living in a world where people who are cruel outnumber those who are not. I'm saying this is not true. Instead, I believe that kind people are in the majority. This is apparent when we consider the numerous people doing volunteer work to improve the lives of others, or when natural disasters strike and people rush to offer aid to those affected.

We are also seeing today that some people claim cruelty is a sign of strength and is crucial to maintaining order. Again, I disagree. The people who are the strongest are the very ones we think of when imagining the most moral people we have met. Their strength is unwavering and steadfast. It is the result of a settled character with kindness as a prominent feature. These are the very people we trust the most when we need assistance.

If one of your goals is to be a good person, that goal can be accomplished through repeatedly practicing good actions. Eventually, performing good actions will become a habit, a part of our nature. This does not happen immediately. It takes time, just as mastering anything is a matter of practicing it again and again. Kindness is an essential part of being good. We must practice kind acts to be kind and develop a stable and strong character. Take a step in the direction of goodness —  practice kindness today.

Julie Aaron is a retired professor of philosophy with a specialization in ethics. She has lived in Nassau County for 6 years.

If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer - about a neighbor or friend or stranger or business that showed you kindness, or about kindness and compassion in general - please contact Peggie Weeks at pegweeks@gmail.com