I respect kindness in human beings first of all, and kindness to animals. I don't respect the law; I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in... Continue Reading →
The Kind Couple
"I recognize you two!" On Saturday, we went to the local farmer's market. It's been part of our weekly routine for the last eight years, so we've befriended members of the customer service term and many vendors. During the pandemic, the market offered curbside pickup, which we took advantage of. During the week, I would... Continue Reading →
Kind, Without Sacrificing the Truth
You can be kind without sacrificing the truth. I wish more people understood this. Disagreement isn't hate. Rather, it's an opportunity to learn from one other and expand our understanding. It's a chance to foster mutual respect. After posting about "white privilege" recently, I was dumbfounded that no one was cruel or combative. You listened,... Continue Reading →
Secondhand Collective Effervescence
Every time my boyfriend visits the farmer's market, the ladies beneath the customer service tent wave and shout, "When is she coming back? We miss her. Don't forget to remind your honey that she looks like Claire Danes!" Prior to the pandemic, we had been going every Saturday morning for years. The workers supporting the... Continue Reading →
Forgotten Acts of Kindness
My boyfriend ventured to our local farmer's market to pick up our produce for the week. On this particular Saturday, the market manager called him aside to ask where I was, to make sure I was okay as I hadn't been in several weeks. I was at home, he explained, as I am at higher... Continue Reading →
Subcutaneous Shifting
Lately, I've been experiencing a subtle shift. It's as if, slowly and inexplicably, my body is making it's way back home. My bones are weary but my spirits are high, like a lost dog returning from an extended jaunt. Magma is quietly rumbling through my veins as tectonic plates scrape along, making space for something... Continue Reading →
A Little Miracle in The Valentine’s Aisle
"Do you have anything special planned?" A voice to my left inquired as we both plucked red-hued cards from the shelf and slipped them back into place, one by one. "No," I responded with a slight chuckle, "my boyfriend and I aren't big on the overly-commercialized holidays. We both appreciate a good card, though." The... Continue Reading →
In Sickness and In Health
There is a nasty bug traveling around in my neck of the woods and, for the first time in several years, I caught it. After twelve days of soothing my fever, snot, and persistent irritability, my boyfriend began began developing symptoms. Oops. We were both gifted the full post-Christmas shebang: fever, chills, sneezing, cough, sinus... Continue Reading →
A Black Diamond Earring, A Heart of Gold
Yesterday, I met my hero. I left the house and my car kept pestering me with flashing lights and beeping sounds. Hey, you--your tire pressure is low, you should probably get it checked out. Hurried, frantic, and sniffling through a nasty cold, I searched for a gas station with an air pump. I found one,... Continue Reading →
The Power of Saying Thank You
Last weekend, my boyfriend and I went to a store that sells shelving, boxes, and lots of other exciting organizational paraphernalia. We asked the cashier whether a particular item was available in a particular color and the poor soul was so incredibly confused. After rephrasing our request five times, he called for backup. As we... Continue Reading →
10 Ways To Turn Around Your Terrible Day
We all have those days where we wake up on the wrong side of the bed, forget our best friend's birthday, and then are thrown under the bus by a coworker. Humans are sensitive creatures, so it's so easy to become overwhelmed and stressed out. As the day goes on, sometimes it may even feel as... Continue Reading →
12 Pieces Of Life Advice From My Mother
My mother was the first to love me, cherishing my life and praying for my future well-being long before I had any sense of self-concept. As mothers do, she passed along her wisdom--the things she had learned in her 30, 40, and 50 years of life on earth. Her advice is, and always has been,... Continue Reading →
Practicing Kindness
On a recent trip to the grocery store, I saw a disheveled man in the side of the road. He hung his head, covering the top inch or two of a sign reading: "Amputee. Anything helps." The skin on the man's face was worn and tired, and his knees had been replaced by mud-stained denim... Continue Reading →