An all time favorite quote of mine:
“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” –Kurt Vonnegut
I think kindness is much too underrated in this world. It’s getting harder and harder to find people who are empathetically understanding and care just to care. I’ve been writing a lot about introspection, self-awareness and the relationship we have with our self. However, this week, I wanted to touch briefly on our interactions with other people and the outside world. The act of kindness and the ability to be empathetic can be very powerful. We’re all currently fighting a battle that many people may not be aware of. Some days, this battle affects us a little more than usual. Often times, the outside world won’t know the magnitude of what’s really going on. Gentle interactions with people can go a long way. You never know what’ll trigger someone and a lot of times when they are triggered, it’s usually related to the timing of it all. It could be the smallest thing in the world, but could mean something WAY more to them than how you actually intended it to mean. If someone decides to react a little more to something they usually wouldn’t even react to, try to give them a little patience and understanding. I’m not saying they’re justified, but the only thing you can control is yourself. It’s not necessary to bite back when there may be something more going on that you’re unaware of. Most people deserve the benefit of the doubt (again, within reason). Of course, they shouldn’t make it a habit, but I’m referring mostly to that initial snap. You don’t want to regret saying too much because you can’t take back those words or even actions (if you let it get to that point).
It’s easy to get caught up in our own world, and we tend to take for granted our surroundings, and the people closest to us. We often forget they may be struggling as well. Check up on your family. Check up on your friends. Check up on anyone who means something to you. Remind people you care. Remind people you love them and that you’ll always be there for them. They may not say it, but they’ll appreciate it more than you think. Just having someone reach out to them may be that one thing they needed in order to either make it through the day, help them feel a little better about anything they’re going through, or just feeling loved and appreciated in general. Small gestures can make all the difference. The little things will always add up, whether it’s negative or positive. Try and be that positive light in someone’s life. Be that person that people can come to and feel a natural comfort and safety around. A place where people instantly feel a little lighter. You really never know how much the smallest encounter can impact someone. Wouldn’t you feel solace knowing you made someone feel a little less alone in this big, challenging and (often times) scary world we live in?
-love Sof
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