This is self-work and I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford. At self-work we'll discuss psychological and emotional issues common in today's world

and what to do about them.

I'm Dr Margaret and self-work is a podcast dedicated to you taking just a few minutes today for your own self-work.

Hi and thanks for being here with me at self-work.

Today's podcast is because the events that surround us, the violence, the hatred,

can be overwhelming. And when I sat down to record this morning these tragedies

were on my mind and I didn't know what I might have to say that would matter.

Then I remembered a story, a stranger's kindness, and I'm going to tell you that story.

Plus I don't know if you heard a commencement speech several years ago, it was back in 2013 that was given, but I've never

forgotten it and I'm going to share some of that commencement speech with you.

It's also about kindness. I also want to be quick to say that I entitled this kindness matters

not as any kind of provocation of the other phrases that use the word matter.

I just wanted to say that kindness

also matters. So thanks for joining me. I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford and we're going

to be talking today about kindness.

First, I want to tell you a story. It was the summer of 1988 and I was

getting my second divorce. There were tears running down my face as I made myself trudge the path

around White Rock Lake in Dallas. I can remember the sky was beginning to light up,

it was really muggy, there was a sun glittering between the leaves of the trees

surrounding the lake. I've always been an early riser, but that morning I

couldn't stand the anxious pressure I immediately felt when I opened my eyes.

I had to find my shoes and head out to the lake for a walk,

...