An important teaching from the Rav ztz"l, one of my favorite: If you look at the frum community and imagine that if they weren't frum then it would be a more just, more ethical, more kind, more pleasant [all of those things and more] society, then that is not the frumkeit that Hashem seeks. It is off the mark.
Our Torah observant world should look sooooo beautiful. People should walk down the street and greet each other [even strangers] with a warm smile and Shalom Aleichem [the greeting, not the author]. There should be no "shtick" [which can mean either entertaining stuff people do at weddings or cheating, lying and stealing. I refer to the latter meaning]. People should be CONSTANTLY using their brain and consulting with their heart as to the proper way of being. The Halacha and Mussar sfarim don't and can't address every single situation in life. Before you open your mouth, think - will the following words make the other person feel good? Will they make the world a better place? Will they elevate or lower? Maybe it would be better NOT to speak? THINK!!! People are VERY sensitive. We can never know HOW sensitive b/c most people don't even realize how sensitive they themselves are. There are so many subtle things that cause of pain [often suppressed] and could be avoided if people would think more. Then after a while it becomes HABITUAL to do and say the right things although there are still going to be situations where one has to think properly before reacting.
There are so many hurtful things we do and say w/o even realizing it and so many affirming and empowering things we say and do, also w/o realizing their full impact. This Elul is a GREAT time to focus on this and make Hashem's broken world a more beautiful place.
