Kindness is King (Or Queen)
A Swiftie argues there's a lot the billionaire musician has in common with Bri Lee
News & Reviews Magazine
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The piece you’re reading now is by Sam Wheatley. Sam Wheatley is a farmer and mum of four grownups living on Dharawal Land near Gerringong on the NSW South Coast and together with her husband Charlie, they are regenerating the native rainforest on their farm, as well as running a bed and breakfast for people who want to experience the peace and quiet of the trees. To challenge herself she sometimes competes in triathlons—having been to two Ironman event world championships in the last 2 years, she’s having a short break. In her previous careers she’s been a registered nurse and a schoolteacher but on any given day you can find her sitting under a tree reading a book or writing (about the simple things in life, focusing on being kind to all) ocean swimming, drinking coffee and/or playing with her dogs.
Music and books have always been my way to connect with my children, teaching them to speak their mind and be true to themselves, with kindness at the heart. So you’ll understand why I have chosen to discuss two women who strengthen this connection through their different forms of artistry.
My heart was literally hammering in my chest as the Taylor Swift concert opened to the throng of 80,000 people. I locked eyes with my adult daughter, with whom I had listened to Swift’s songs since she was a little girl, a strong connection to the past. In came another memory of my younger daughter telling me about “Shake it off” and how Swift wrote the lyrics as a ‘Fuck Off!” to her “haters”. The joy was evident on my daughters’ face as she sang and danced. It was a powerful moment. The link between the artists’ lyrics, the friendship bracelets being passed around, the feeling of kindness and safety amongst strangers at this massive event, and my mothering, has become all too clear.
Kindness overrides intellect as the most desirable quality I look for in any human interaction. It embodies a spirit of generosity and empathy that we extend to others through our actions and words. It’s about showing care, using compassion, and treating others with respect. When we practice kindness, we develop a deeper understanding of others, leading to greater self-awareness and connection, something Bri Lee does really well in her work. Kindness is often misunderstood as a sign of weakness. I believe it is a tremendous strength—a powerful force that encourages others to step out of their comfort zones and push themselves to grow. It is through kindness that we can create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and understood.
I picked up Eggshell Skull four years ago. I hadn’t heard of Bri Lee but I liked the dramatic cover. I was deeply affected by the strength of her voice. At the time I was involved in a businesswomen’s network in the Southern Highlands and had been exposed to the frightening numbers of women and children sleeping in their cars to escape violent men. This is what hit hard. Here was a young woman exposing the fact that women were speaking up and being disbelieved in our justice system! I immediately wanted my daughters to read the book.