The currency of kindness, more valuable than all the coins, stocks, investments some like to accumulate, a positive contagion in a shared world. thank you James xoxo
Anthropologist Margaret Mead said the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture is a femur that had been broken and then healed. She theorized that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die because you are unable to run from danger, hunt, and survive. But a healed thigh bone is a sign that someone has taken time to care for the injured.
(It has been disputed that she actually said this or wrote it, but I’ll go with the sentiment anyway.)
A few berries, a hunk of meat, the spark from flint, a warmed mother and child, a handful of gathered mushrooms...How simple can be the acts of kindness.
thank you for sharing this, James. I usually have a negative view of early civilization, and think about the story of Cain and Abel, but I certainly like this version better. What if kindness was the first act, and love something we cherished. I will think about the prompt and envision something more positive.
The currency of kindness, more valuable than all the coins, stocks, investments some like to accumulate, a positive contagion in a shared world. thank you James xoxo
Lovely and inspiring.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead said the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture is a femur that had been broken and then healed. She theorized that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die because you are unable to run from danger, hunt, and survive. But a healed thigh bone is a sign that someone has taken time to care for the injured.
(It has been disputed that she actually said this or wrote it, but I’ll go with the sentiment anyway.)
Yes, I read that the quote was only attributed to Mead, but I'll go with it, too! I love thinking about this, Susan.
Kindness currency?
Spreading warmth, light, like embers
among all members.
The First Sign Of Civilization
After James Crews
The first sign of civilization was
when people started sharing their resources,
supporting and protecting each other
from the elements and shooting arrows.
When the language went from us versus them
to us.
All of us!
Brotherhood.
Sisterhood.
Friends.
Love.
When community meant more than anything else
and that provided a sense of security,
a sense of belonging, a sense of prosperity
and the fear of a tiger was much smaller
than confidence, trust and faith.
A few berries, a hunk of meat, the spark from flint, a warmed mother and child, a handful of gathered mushrooms...How simple can be the acts of kindness.
It's so true--so simple are the acts we offer to each other.
The first sign of civilization
we saw when they unearthed Pompeii.
Two adult bodies, wrapped around their child,
as the fiery end flooded toward them,
eyes closed, cradle of love created,
the beginning
the end
no beginning
no end.
Love is the only measure,
the only choice
that has ever really mattered.
~Thank you, James, for your lovely poem and for this inspiration!
thank you for sharing this, James. I usually have a negative view of early civilization, and think about the story of Cain and Abel, but I certainly like this version better. What if kindness was the first act, and love something we cherished. I will think about the prompt and envision something more positive.