A few weeks ago, I woke up to a text from a number that I didn't have.
This isn't necessarily unusual for me, for sometimes customers from work will text my cell to place orders, or fellow collaborators on group projects at school will reach out to me, and I won't save their numbers as I more than likely won't talk to them again.
This text however was slightly unusual. Let's call the person who it came from Marie:
"Melissa, it's Marie. I don't think you will remember me at all but I remembered the time you followed me home when I drove back to my house high after smoking for my first time at your friend's house. I was so scared and it made me feel so much better knowing you were right there behind me. You may not even remember yourself doing this at all but thank you so much."
I vaguely recall this happening, and know I definitely followed someone home when she was afraid to drive one night, but otherwise had almost completely forgotten about it. This led me to reflect on all the kind things people have done for me who I'll never see again, or who didn't think anything of their kind actions.... the person in front of me in the drive-thru paying for my coffee in the morning, the friendly face who frequently comes into work and does little things to make me smile, the fellow student in class who takes the extra steps in assuring I got all the information I missed in skipping class that day.
It astounds me how large the spectrum is in how we human beings interact with and treat one another. People can have such animosity toward one another, and be so vengeful, hateful, spiteful, and the list goes on and on how full of unkindness we truly can be as a species. However, there is still much good left in the world and in how we treat our fellow humans...in anonymous contributions to charities, in holding the door open for someone 20 feet behind you, in simply nodding and smiling and saying hello to a stranger passing by on the street.
It is so easy for us to forget that each and every person we interact with is a person just like us, with a family and friends who love and respect them, with hobbies and interests and passions and demons, just like us. We tend to put on these masks and hide behind these walls and guard our hearts and act with hatred as an extension of our ignorance and fears and misconceptions about one another when truthfully, if we just took the time to attempt to understand one another rather than judge, and compromise rather than always be right, our world would be a much more loving, free-spirited, open-minded place.
The planet desperately needs more healers, lovers, givers, and storytellers of all times. Just like in the case with Marie and me, you never really know how big of an impact you have, and how deep of an impression you leave on other people's lives. I encourage you to go out into the world and be the best you that you possibly can be, not just in bettering your own life and building yourself up, but in making sure not to step on other people, and bringing them up with you on your way. Act with kindness and love, for you attract what you reflect. Whatever you are, be a good one.
