This final month of December 2018, I took on the challenge of being kind. After seeing an Instagram story from my dear friend, Kolten (hey babe), in which he announced his participation in a kindness advent calendar, I thought “why not?” and decided to participate too. Every day until Christmas I have done each kind act, from paying for a strangers coffee, to taping money to the vending machine, as listed on the calendar. On Christmas Day, I am to reflect on my month. My reflection goes as follows:
It is true when they say “what goes around comes around.” This has been an unspeakably difficult month for me. I had to learn to let go and forgive people who had never said “sorry.” I overspent money, time, and love on people who did not reciprocate. But despite my ongoing sadness and stress, I still managed to do something kind, even though the world had not been kind to me. All of my efforts to share positivity seemed in vain. Slowly, however, I discover the light at the end of the tunnel, and the mist that had clouded my vision of love, had settled.
Kindness does come back for you, even in the most minuscule ways. On Day 21, I had cleaned out my closet and had my mom deliver the bags of clothing to the thrift store; It was that same day that I had ordered a Grande pink drink at Starbucks and the barista (Alexander) handed me a venti, free of charge. On Day 23, I left a chocolate covered pretzel for my mailman in the mailbox, and Jaxon (a Taco Bell employee) told me he had taken care of the cost of my slushee. And although my personal life was suffocating, with every random heart-felt text message from my friends, came a breath of fresh air. Each friendly interaction with my servers, taught me the kindness which I often neglected. Yes, I struggled, but my struggles were outweighing me for the many blessings that I had discovered along my month of kindness.
Making the conscious decision of choosing kindness over hatred is what will deliver you from your own pain. It is my hope that whoever is reading this decides to be kind despite their struggles. Who knows? Maybe a Venti pink drink is waiting for you too… Let’s all create our own calendars of kindness for the next 365 days of 2019. Much love, Ev
Pathways 