Be Kind

I encountered a woman yesterday wearing a t-shirt with the brief phrase “Be Kind." Neither us were wearing masks, so we were able to make eye contact and I was able to express my gratitude for seeing her shirt.

The shirt was a simple reminder -- an important reminder -- that acts of kindness make a difference. We are not through this massive disruption yet. It will take some time to get our bearings and feel in balance. I believe that small acts of kindness can make a difference, particularly at this moment. As we continue to emerge from our cocoons, we recognize that we have all been changed by the experience of the pandemic, each responding in our own unique way.

A few examples are: introducing oneself to a new neighbor now that masks are off, expressing joy at seeing those we haven’t seen in a while, picking up the signals when someone needs a little extra attention, and expressing gratitude not only for the big things but the little things as well. These small acts will help us get back to a place where our anxiety is not foremost in our thinking.