Engage In Kindness
Start writing a post
Student Life

Engage In Kindness

Because, at the end of the day, you never know what demons people face.

280
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bowersburn/11827064536/in/photolist-j27NeN-JNrsLD-h67RQN-bdjvgx-eeNp5J-pejmaV-64gtt2-8xz4W4-F7kQy9-9CY8iz-2bXa4rb-kqUE8B-4QfnDH-fpH7Rn-9DuxoJ-cXYegJ-bH2CMR-bNLiBD-28E2oNX-6UM1mN-6LtMit-28Dey3a-m1zdnU-27cCnpA-oonrE2-LxHR5-8Jqy3R-4MJSYf-8TSfyo-crJS4Y-YGZP-d1xQLG-h8CxQ5-6T9FQ9-qKPmvm-dBPzdi-2b1CYhZ-bL1fYz-UDMoC8-8CqHuq-6uGbQM-D1dDr-9uUosY-pqSEh1-4dadfN-EJDnXQ-dtoySC-2951ZFo-W3JapE-5NBf79
Flickr

Last week, I was on the way home to celebrate one of my very best friend's wedding weekend when I got an email from my landlord that will forever alter the way that I engage in intentional conversations with people that I might usually not.

I was on FaceTime with my friend and was concentrated on only the road and my conversation with my friend.

A heard a ding on my phone, the kind that I knew rang when I got an email. I scanned over the notification at the top of my phone screen and the first word that caught my eye was, "suicide."

I furiously read over the email and began to realize that the reason that I was receiving this email was that the tenant next to my apartment had attempted to commit suicide earlier that afternoon and our landlord was informing me of this.

My heart shattered, and I mean SHATTERED... entirely fell onto my car floorboard amidst the conversation I was having with my friend.

My neighbor was someone that I saw every morning on my way to class, and someone that I would quite frequently run into either walking to my car or on the way to a friends house.

I always engaged in conversation with him, but after receiving that email, I began to pick my brain and wonder if I had ever participated in real kindness with him.

Had I shared a little piece of Heaven with him everytime we spoke? Did I talk intentionally to him, and not just because I felt awkward in passing?

While I believed that I was always "nice" to him in passing, I failed to engage in kindness towards him actively.

Luckily I was gone throughout the weekend following but came back to his apartment is empty, and my heart shattered all over again. The apartment felt dark, empty, and reeked of loneliness.

However, throughout this, I actively began to realize that no matter how close we are or are not to someone, we must always strive to bring Heaven down to Earth. What I saw of my neighbor every early morning was nothing but a fraction of himself and what demons he faced on the inside.

So, from now on, I have promised myself to always engage in kindness with the people I find myself passing every so often. Not just my close friends and family, but also those who I might find it hard to strike up a conversation with at times.

After all, when we actively love and show kindness and mercy towards each other, we subconsciously bring a little piece of Heaven to Earth.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

90219
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

62282
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments