Small Kindnesses
Small Kindnesses
It is no secret here that I am a moody, sometimes oversensitive guy. As such I have come to deeply appreciate small kindnesses offered by people here, at support group meetings and in my personal life when I am feeling down. Whether it is a hug, a smile when you see me, words of encouragement or concern in a phone call, e-mail, or PM, a supportive reply to a post I have made, or something more creative, those things all make a difference for me. I only call them small because they are relatively simple things to do, but they are not small in terms of the message of caring and hope they provide.
While I have struggled with the emotional part of this journey and, especially, with self-acceptance, there are many people here and in the rest of life that carry a far greater emotional burden than I do. Depression, an old and unwelcome acquaintance of mine, seems to be hitting a lot of people I know lately. Although the source of their pain varies widely, it seems to me that any small kindnesses I can provide might at least take the edge off their suffering a little bit. There are those, too, who choose to keep their emotional struggles more private. Small kindnesses would likely benefit them as well, perhaps more than you know.
Thus, I offer here a challenge for each of you to go out of your way today, this week, this month to offer small kindnesses to the people in your life, to help someone have a better day, to let them know you actually care. Even if you yourself are struggling, bestowing small kindnesses on others serves to heal not just the recipient, but the giver as well.
RP
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
