It’s Tough, Or Not Tough

It’s tough these days.

It’s tough to remain positive when nearly everywhere you see sadness, fear, anger, distress, and conflict.  It’s tough to remain positive and open to recognize there’s goodness and kindness around us when feeling hurt when something you believe in is threatened, and what you hold dear is waning.  It’s tough when feeling surges of mixed-up emotions that have never been so heightened.   

Yet, try not to be tough on yourself.  Be kind to yourself, take time to breathe and relax.  Stand in the sunshine and look at the sky, let the sun light up your face.  Climb to the highest point and gaze upon the beauty of our earth knowing you are a part of that beauty. Hug someone you love, hold them for a long time.  Eat a piece of warm apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream or indulge in your favorite chocolate.  Call a friend you’ve not talked to in a while, call your mom.  Do easy things, the ones that make you happy.

On a whim, I stopped by my apartment building manager’s office just to tell her how much I appreciate what she does and the hard work she puts into her days, her smile lit up the room.  I share this because there’s a wonderful and positive energy that occurs when this happens, and it lightens the tough time I’ve been feeling too.  Is there someone you’d like to share your appreciation with?  It’s not tough, actually, it feels pretty good. 

It’s not tough to show random acts of kindness.  Just by opening a door for someone with their arms full, or even if they don’t have their arms full, will bring a grateful smile to their face and a thank you to your ear.  Buy some flowers and hand them to someone you don’t know.  When you’re walking down a sidewalk and someone’s outfit or hat catches your eye, it’s not tough to tell them they look great in it.  Compliments fill a person with gleeful confidence.  Let the person asking for help know you see them; you may be the first one that did that day.  Smile at strangers and they’ll smile back, and trust me, their smile will make yours feel great.  If you see an opportunity to make a difference, don’t be afraid to do it. 

Remember, positive overpowers negative, good and kindness overpowers tough.  Both are spread by action.  We are what’s positively good and kind in this world and we can ignite making a difference, one random act at a time. It’s tough these days, so I wanted to share a random act of kindness in hopes that it eases some of the struggles we are facing. Hang in there folks.

Let’s all let our light brilliantly shine.