Katharina Buczek
Yes, we have all wallowed in self-pity before, and it can feel helpful to throw yourself a brief pity party from time to time. But, when we allow this stress to follow us around, we might notice ourselves becoming more impatient, short-tempered, or unappreciative of the small things in life.
Little do we realize, though, that these “small things” are what should be our fuel to keep going. The smile your bus driver gives you each morning or the guy who holds the door for you at the gym. The grocery clerk who helps you bag your groceries each Sunday, or the coffee shop employee who commits your daily order to memory.
These things are so small that, when overwrought with stress or anxiety, you may not even notice. But, if you make a mindful effort to look for the little things, you will find that they are abundant in our everyday life.
And honestly, we need more of them. These tiny acts of kindness speak to our inherent human nature.
We want to connect; we want to help each other and make others’ lives easier. But sometimes, our day-to-day responsibilities just feel like “too much,” or we are “too busy” to give back to our communities.
So, if you can relate, then start making a conscious effort to be a tiny part of the good. Recognize that while the overall state of our world might be frightening and uncertain, every single person has the ability to start shaping their own local community.
Be that person who sends a “check-up” text to a friend or that neighbor who strikes up a simple conversation.
Lend a helping hand to an older person at the grocery store or merely smile and say hello to a coworker to brighten their day.
These acts of kindness are easy and free. They will also add up. Think of how many people’s days you can make a bit better just by being intentional at least once every day. Then, consider how many acts of kindness potentially your whole community could generate.
Plus, you will find that you not only made someone else feel better, but you feel great afterward, too.
Creating this sense of connection even helps ground you and those around you, providing a bubble of protection based on human care that essentially no bad news could ever rupture.
