As everyone in Atlantic Canada, and really the entire world, has been trying to figure out ways of living amidst all the covid-19 chaos a huge tragedy has taken place in Nova Scotia.
I don’t live in any of these small communities but much of my life has been spent living and loving small community life.
I greatly understand the care, concern and genuine love these communities can provide to each other and even to strangers.
So on top of struggling to find new ways of loving this new normal life, so many people are now faced with figuring out how to accept that there with an insane killer living and working in their communities.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love….
Jackie DeShannon
We all know the song quoted above, love is a word that has many meanings. Many people couple the word LOVE with romance and not something to share with strangers. What if we look at using the word Kindness. Maybe this word could help us understand the importance of truly “loving” one another a little better.
I’ve been trying to find the words to write a post and I’m still kind of at a loss but I really feel that we as a community and as a world, need to come together more now than we ever have.
So many different people have been affected, the count right now stands at 22 innocent lives taken by the hands of a monster. Those 22 people have touched so many lives and so many people have been affected. They are left struggling trying to find ways to self isolated, to keep social distancing first and foremost priority but yet try and find comfort and understanding and ways to move forward all while dealing with unimaginable tragedy. Read more about this here https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52373798
Wounded hearts are never the same, they always love a little stronger and feel a little deeper.
People everywhere are coming together, trying to do their part. To send love and strength too all of these people that have been affected by this senseless tragedy, so they truly feel they are not alone.
As we come struggle to move on after the mass tradegy, and I struggle to finds ways to put my thoughts into words to share, Atlantic Canada is hit with yet another tragedy; The crashing of one of our Military helicopters off the coast of Greece. Another 6 lives ended way too soon, without a chance to say goodbye, without a chance for families to really be together to help comfort an already devastated community.
To see how the military is really one big hurting but strong family and for more on the amazing lives lost click here…
The one thing that keeps popping up in my head it’s just simply be kind.
I know it sounds so plain and simple, but maybe that is what the world really does need right now, and moving forward.
Everybody has something going on and right now so many people are struggling with unprecedented times, truly unimaginable times for some.
Kids trying to figure out how life is going to continue without a parent, a parent trying to figure out what life is like without a child.
Not only is this bringing out the best in people but sadly it also can bring out the worst in some people . This is a great time for us to focus on being kinder to ourselves and each other.
Let this be the time to really examine our lives and realize that each day truly is a gift. Lets find ways to celebrate and appreciate that gift every day, because tomorrow is never a guarantee.
We all know people are suffering.
We all know people deal with things in their own ways.
We all know that as much as people want to rush out and place her arms around somebody who’s hurting we can’t do that right now.
We need to find new ways.
We need new normals.
That may mean making a phone call,
sending a text, sharing a smile to the person we see out walking, holding the door, sharing a kind word to the young cashier at the grocery store.
Whatever it means to you to reach out to someone, in a new normal kind of way.
It’s certainly not what we’re used to.
It certainly doesn’t seem as comforting as being able to sit face-to-face and actually hold these people.
In this new way of life since covid-19 we are all needing to find new ways to reach out to show support, to show other that people in the world do still care.
When you’re out doing your essential business it’s tough, its different, its not what we are used to.
It’s scary, it’s different. It’s our new world.
Plain and simple.
The stores look different, people act different, people are scared.
Unfortunately, when people get scared that can sometimes turn into anger. It brings out the nasty side of people, the rudeness, the unkind words and actions. BUT, it can also bring out the genuine kindness of people. We need more of that.
Think about this the next time you head out.
How can you share kindness, yes kindness to even complete strangers?
When you meet someone please just be kind, share a smile if you can, a nod of the head, something that shows that you’re human and although you don’t know these people, you choose to share some kindness.
Be that beam of light that somebody needs.
One never truly knows how a simple act of kindness can change the day for a complete stranger.
BE THAT PERSON.
I’ve said this many times before but right now more than ever the world needs more rays of light, more smiles, more kindness, more compassion and and more gentleness.
Don’t get me wrong though, as hard as we all try, sometimes we slip and we aren’t the kindest person, that’s ok.
We are all human.
In times like that I encourage you to be KIND TO YOURSELF.
Allow yourself to be human, be gentle with yourself.
Rest and reflect and carry on.
Carry on with the hopes of being kind, and the realization that we all make choices that sometimes we aren’t proud of.
As I close I want to share just one of the many amazing people who helps motivate me daily and shows that true kindness is totally contagious. The owner of a small truck stop in one of the communities heavily affected by the masd shootings, a stranger to me, a true spreader of kindness. Follow her journey and the ongoing wonderful testament of the power of how kindness really does change the world for better, here.
Thanks for sharing your time with me, until next time my friends.
Be kind to yourself and look out for others. xo
