photo by Flo Gascon
Kindness is a Mother
Kindness is a lineage. We are kindness in the way that we are stardust.
Kindness is kismet. It was set in motion when the first mother was kind to her babe.
Kindness is the gesture. Reaching out, we pass on the flow of ancient, forgotten, unseen kindness.
Kindness is grace. When we touch our child with kindness, we are blessing the future.
Kindness is energy. Rooted in where we’re from and who we are and where we put it next, kindness makes us immortal.
I will always be here and you will be, too.
There is no bigger gift we can bestow upon our children.
Reaching back through the ages to grasp that piece of you are special, releasing it through our fingertips as we stroke blonde curls.
Harnessing the power of love that is our birthright secured by the unconditional, unbroken vow that slipped through the souls of the mothers before me; before you.
Creating pockets of goddess and goodness in the moment here and the moment there in between the hustle and the bustle.
Surrounding, infusing, steeping new lives in the fragrant tea of rising hope. In our desire to do it all and get it all and be it all we are bolstered and buoyed by the faith that was forwarded.
Drawing from history and her story to offer a finessed foundation to hold the space, secure the structure, reach the heavens.
It’s always been okay and you will be, too.
The present honors the past by bundling the best of what was with the wonder of what will be. Holding your child, you hold the next step, the next link in the chain, the next beat of the drum. You can squeeze too tightly and crush. You can open and make space. Kindness is the pivot.
In all you do, the thread of kindness weaves the richest tapestry a legacy can hold.
In all you are, the spirit of kindness says yes and clears the way.
In all you raise, the kiss of kindness is handed down.
Kindness is a mother to my daughters, who are…
from Flo who’s from Helen and Myrtle and Myrtle and Carrie and Anna
from lineage passed from steady hand and steadfast heart
from quilting needles and milking pails, and feather dusters and accordion keys, and canning jars and pens on paper
from a flower bed and rows of corn, apple crisp and railroad tracks, front porch steps and laundry lines
from dark eyes and dyed hair, crooked teeth and round shoulders, straight backs and floured hands, sun-worn skin, curvy legs
from mopping the brow, kissing the head, squeezing the hand, holding the vigil, catching the fall
from back-breaking work to flying on larks
from losing a risk to taking a chance
from holding on to letting go
from having nothing to all that you need
from life and loss and life re-born
from struggle and fear to guts and success
from tears and shock
and goodbyes and goodbyes
from laughter and light and from love and from learning
and hellos and hellos and hellos
from honey bees and a dairy cow to ocean coasts and la vallees
from snowfall and waterfall
from east and from west
from wagons through rivers and an old red Chevelle
from of course you can, I’m always here, so proud of you, try again
from breathing and walking and staying the course
from daring and dreaming and dancing and doing
from forgiving and forgetting
from remembering and creating.
My daughters, you are from women who gather the light.
You are from kindness.
Pass it on.
 | Flo Gascon is a writer and mentor to moms who feel stuck and in need of a fresh approach to their days. She provides tools and ideas to create a peaceful home and vibrant life by breaking out of the have-tos and embracing the want-tos. Her newest website in slowly being born and you can get the next newsletter at januarysgirl.com. Flo also is the creator and director of the popular Wide Sky Days unschooling conference. Alongside romping with her girls on sandy beaches and wrangling reproducing sticky notes, she takes photos, drinks tea and makes dreamy plans for her life by the sea. |
27 comments:
This is beautiful ..heart expanding .. Love
Perfectly lovely!
What a legacy to be given, and to pass on.
And what an honor.
Beautiful.
This made my heart smile.
Thank you for those words Flo. I found this line especially wise and beautiful: "The present honors the past by bundling the best of what was with the wonder of what will be."
this is lovely...makes me think of my mum, her mum, and mum's before her....I come from a lineage of lovely mums... : ) I thank them for making me the mum that i am.... <3
Heartfelt, lovely words.
Thank you, Shannon! Love sent right back to you.
So glad you enjoyed this, Deborah!
Isn't it? I can think of nothing better. How lucky are we that we get to be these messengers of kindness?
:) You made my heart smile, too, Dawn.
Happy to know that resonated with you. I try to keep that idea in my heart, especially when it's a rough day. :) Thanks, Kate. xxoo
Exactly! I'm grateful, too, for all that's been handed down to me. Also for the opportunity to sift out and improve. You're a great mum, Mandy. <3
Oh, hey! It's my sister! Thank you for being here and sharing this journey with me. Love you!
Flo, lovely, lovely post! One of my great loves is family history and the story of the women in my ancestry is such a quiet strength to me. Thanks for these words about exactly this x
Beautiful words that were written from the heart<3
This is extremely powerful. you had my attention at the first line.
Your message is beautiful, hopeful, inspiring, and so poetically delivered. Really lovely. I love the idea that "we are kindness in the way that we are stardust" as if it just is; kindness as the default of our being that we just need to let flow.
Flo, this is absolutely lovely. So many quotable lines too - I particularly love "
Creating pockets of goddess and goodness in the moment here and the moment there in between the hustle and the bustle. " Just beautiful!
What a beautiful post. Your message is lovely Kindness is our greatest gift as mothers, and what a beautiful gift to pass on for posterity~
Thank you, Ellen! Such a simple gift with such profound impact.
Such a compliment- thank you, Victoria!
It just is. The trick is to stay out of its way. xx
So glad you enjoyed it, Jessica! <3
From my heart to yours. xx
It helps me to focus on that quiet strength. Especially when I have days that are less than stellar. So glad this meant something to you, too.
"you are from women who gather the light" - what an achingly beautiful phrase x
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