I’ve been in a low place. I’m struggling. It sucks. But I put on my brave face every day and carry on and try as hard as possible not to let it affect the people around me. Yesterday at the post office they lost a “certified letter” I received a notice for. Certified letters are generally pretty important so I was standing at the counter trying not to fall apart emotionally but I just kept smiling and telling them to take their time and be thorough. It took them about 25 minutes to figure out it was just a package of Shakeology and had been mislabeled. As I left the manager thanked me for being so patient and nice during the wait.
Then I sat in my car in the parking lot and cried for 10 minutes.
And this post isn’t about seeking comfort. If I thought you could do that I’d tell you how but I know better. What I do want to do is just to remind everybody to remember that everybody is going through something. Everybody.
Today on the way home from work I noticed a lot of SJPD bike cops and patrol cars heading North and I remembered that there was a funeral procession today for officer Michael Katherman and they must be heading back into town after the funeral which was in Gilroy. I decided to take the back way home because traffic was building up ahead and saw what must have been 50 or more guys on Harleys with American flags. Most of them had larger American flags rolled up and stored on their bikes.
And I had to pull over and take a second to breathe through the tears.
I know they weren’t there to support me. They don’t even know that I exist. But just the thought that these people all showed up to stand on the side of the road, flags waving, saluting this fallen hero as he passed made my heart swell. That there is so much love in the world was a little overwhelming. That there was so much love in this world out there directed at a COMPLETE STRANGER was I guess exactly what my heart needed right now in the wake of my personal problems, and mass shootings, and an annoyingly volatile campaign raging on.
So this is just your reminder to be nice. I know you have stuff happening in your life too. We all do. EVERYBODY.
But your simple smile. Your simple Thank You. Your simply holding the door for the person behind you. You have no idea how powerfully these tiny simple gestures can be to a stranger.
Somebody had a miscarriage today.
Somebody lost a pet today.
Somebody got laid off today.
Somebody’s car broke down today.
Somebody got devastating cancer news today.
Somebody lost their house in a fire today.
Somebody had to bury their fallen hero today.
Just be nice. It’s so easy to do.
All photos thanks to: Emilia Horta Designs and Photography