Not about fasting

This is completely off topic but hey, it's my blog so I can write whatever I like.

I work for a very large global company. As with most companies of this size, we work hard to promote diversity and inclusion. I am a member of the LGBT network, and last Thursday went to an event they had organised to promote the importance of straight allies in the workplace. It was fantastic to have some very senior members of staff from both my company and other FTSE100s talking about the work being done to include and encourage LGBT staff to be able to be themselves at work, along with representatives from Stonewall in attendance.

One theme that kept re-appearing throughout the evening was one of the reasons why straight people were standing up for their LGBT colleagues. It came down to respect - to treating people the way you would want to be treated. This is not an LGBT issue, or a gender issue, or a diversity issue. It's simply a human issue.

The word "nice" has been much maligned over time. I remember over 20 years ago being told never to use it by my English teacher. I think the time may have come to reclaim it. I think we can sum up all our aspirations about how to behave with our fellow humans by saying - "Be nice."

Nice is kindness, and calmness, thoughtfulness and tolerance. Nice is being considerate, helpful, even that old-fashioned value, being polite. Nice is about respecting other people, about not jumping to conclusions, about not assuming you know everything about everyone else's situation and motivation. Nice is not judging, not being mean, not taking advantage.

I fail constantly in my efforts to be nice, but events like last Thursday remind me how important it is to keep trying. And when someone is nice to me, to really appreciate it.

Caitlin Moran recently published a letter to her daughter in The Times, with advice from beyond the grave. As always with Moran, it is full of humour and and neat observations. The first item on her list stuck with me:

“The main thing is just to try to be nice. Keep slowly turning it up, like a dimmer switch, whenever you can. Just resolve to shine, constantly and steadily, like a warm lamp in the corner, and people will want to move towards you in order to feel happy, and to read things more clearly. You will be bright and constant in a world of dark and flux."

Excellent advice.


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You can read the whole letter here:
http://fuckyeahcaitlinmoran.tumblr.com/post/56512417071/a-letter-from-caitlin-moran-to-her-daughter-from-beyond