Yesterday I had a bad patch in my day. It was like a compliment sandwich: great at the start, negative in the middle, and great at the end. Though it ended great, the negative still seeped through and left me feeling off and disappointed. That night one person told me, “Everything happens for a reason. Maybe something better will come out of this!” At the time I didn’t see how, but she was right.
Today I met a doctor. This doctor was my “better” she was talking about. I’m beginning my journey into nursing school and medicine that I’ve been working towards for a very long time. For such a journey you are required to jump through many hoops to make sure you are mentally and physically fit enough to handle the classes and clinicals. This doctor helped me along the way with a ridiculous hoop.
As I was in his office he joked around and insulted my inability to crush his fingers in the nicest and funniest way. That alone lifted my spirits and let go of much of the weight of the previous disaster. What really and truly changed my attitude was that he gave me such kindness. He asked me about school and what I wanted to do with my degree. He was genuinely interested and shared stories about experiences. Advice was given. Most importantly he gave some girl who is basically a stranger a huge compliment, “You’re going to do wonderfully. You’ll succeed.”
A man who didn’t know me or my grades or my life told me I would do well. Someone in the medical profession where I wanted to be so badly encouraged my pursuit. That kindness was the warm light and push that I had needed to breathe and let go. It was all going to be okay.
Truly it was last (so far) in a line of small kind acts that had been bestowed upon me: a gift of a stethoscope from a nurse, encouragement from friends and family, and my mom taking time to help me fix my mistake. Their kindness is truly overwhelming.
I’m always the one to say everything happens for a reason. I lost that yesterday. I hope I can hold on to it better because it was very true.
If you’ve stuck with me, this is all to say that a little goes a long way; especially kindness. Small acts do more for others than you know. It means even more when it comes from someone who knows so little. These kind acts bridge the darkness that seep through our life and help us to think that it really will be okay. Life is really great, and the bad things are only us stumbling a little.
If you can, reach out to someone who looks like they’re going through a hard time. Give a kind word to someone who looks like they have it together. We are all going through things that we don’t show to others. A smile to a stranger, encouragement to your friends, saying I love and miss you to our parents can all help put a little love in someone’s heart and help them get back on their feet. We all stumble and need a little help along the way.
Kindness. Always kindness.
