This is an awesome story. I haven’t seen enough kindness lately. I have found the opposite though. I’ve been struggling with winter blues/ cancer caregiver fatigue etc. But one antidote seems to be doing something for someone I don’t know. I bought lunch for a woman who was pan handling (she had her order ready on a slip of paper- pretty clever!) Offered support to a family clearly new at the infusion center. What Ive found is that being kind to someone, especially a stranger, my own mood lifts. It’s very different from caregiving that is “expected” of us.
I love this, Joanell. And I'm so sorry that it's been a hard season for you. I like what you're saying about offering kindness. We don't have to wait around for someone to give it to us!
Me, too. Tears at this turn of phrase..."An existing ecosystem was confronted with a change: a disabled mom, a kid who had never climbed, and they made absolutely no effort to maintain the status quo." Because it's both a powerful observation and a conceit. Usually we don't realize it, we won't admit to it, but we are subtly, ardently making much effort at maintaining the status quo AGAINST accessibility. And "letting that go" is actually a conceit because it is both effortful and purposeful. We have to be willing to do something other than maintain. We have to be willing to change. So glad you found this place!!
I love your way of thinking about this. I do feel like people assume acceptance and inclusion are passive phrases, but actually, they require taking action because, as you say, the status quo does not involve access!
Oh! All this kindness brought me to tears. Thank you so much for sharing!
I'm so glad it touched you, too. Such a balm to witness people at their best.
I meant to comment when I read this yesterday but I love this so very much and it brought tears to my eyes. This is the way we can be.
I'm so glad you liked it. It's a good reminder to me. Just try to do the right thing with each situation presented to me.
This is the way you can be. This is what I needed to read this morning. I love this for you, K, the world right now, me.
Thank you, Bonnie. It's been really special to see how this post resonated! I think we are all craving examples of people being good.
This is an awesome story. I haven’t seen enough kindness lately. I have found the opposite though. I’ve been struggling with winter blues/ cancer caregiver fatigue etc. But one antidote seems to be doing something for someone I don’t know. I bought lunch for a woman who was pan handling (she had her order ready on a slip of paper- pretty clever!) Offered support to a family clearly new at the infusion center. What Ive found is that being kind to someone, especially a stranger, my own mood lifts. It’s very different from caregiving that is “expected” of us.
I love this, Joanell. And I'm so sorry that it's been a hard season for you. I like what you're saying about offering kindness. We don't have to wait around for someone to give it to us!
Me, too. Tears at this turn of phrase..."An existing ecosystem was confronted with a change: a disabled mom, a kid who had never climbed, and they made absolutely no effort to maintain the status quo." Because it's both a powerful observation and a conceit. Usually we don't realize it, we won't admit to it, but we are subtly, ardently making much effort at maintaining the status quo AGAINST accessibility. And "letting that go" is actually a conceit because it is both effortful and purposeful. We have to be willing to do something other than maintain. We have to be willing to change. So glad you found this place!!
I love your way of thinking about this. I do feel like people assume acceptance and inclusion are passive phrases, but actually, they require taking action because, as you say, the status quo does not involve access!