Kindness Abounds

If you stop and look for it, you can watch kindness everywhere you turn.

Sometime it makes me catch my breath, it's so wonderful, so powerful, so inspirational.

My sweet big girl has been growing her hair out for years.

Her grandma told her that when she was a young woman her hair was so long she could sit on it.

So, she's been growing and growing her hair.

The trick is that it became so long that she couldn't brush it herself very well.

And our water is so filled with iron that it made just tossing her hair to the side turn into a big tangle.

Not to mention, she's getting old enough that she wants to style her hair and it was just too long to style on her own.

So, she made the decision to cut her hair and donate it to Locks of Love.

And the fantastic Sunrise Hair Design gave her a free haircut for her generous contribution.  Something I didn't know before her appointment.

Here she is carefree, and on top of the world with her little brother with her toasted-marshmallow-colored bouncy hair.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to watch a friend surprised (a couple of weeks early) for her 40th birthday.  The girls who planned the party pulled out all the stops to make it as spectacular as possible- bringing in a friend from as far away as Colorado.  So much work and love to make someone feel special.  She said it was almost like going to her funeral- seeing all these different people there for her.  I thought it was an incredible showing of the diversity of people she's touched in the short time she's lived here in Olympia.

Another friend hosted a fund raising event for a boy we went to high school with who is battling an aggressive brain cancer, who has a wife and two babies.  Our community has pulled together to try and ease the financial burden of the challenges they face, knowing that the biggest battle isn't one we can help with.

To know that there is such a phenomenal community of people looking out for each other, that they care when someone is facing unimaginable challenges.

I see sweetness, selfless dedication, to try to make things just a little bit easier for someone else.

I find it absolutely inspirational.

There's always something we can do for someone else, if we open our eyes and look- we'll see that kindness blooming all around us.

I hope that I remember to point it out to my kids.

That they grow up knowing that that's just what you do for others.

Help when and however you can and try to love everyone in spite of any shortcomings, because Lord knows we all have them.

adversity

It's not something you'd wish on anyone.

Especially when it affects kids and family.

We all seem to handle it differently.

Some of us hold it in and hide it.

Others let it consume them.

Yet others let themselves be an open book inviting everyone who cares to share in their experience.

I admire that strength and courage.

I doubt any of us could anticipate what we would want while facing adversity we don't want to imagine- yet when someone you care about is going through it, that's what you have to do.

Try and put yourself in their shoes and imagine what you would want others to do for you.

Then do it for them.

One thing I've learned is how much it means to hear someone express their genuine concern and well wishes for you.

It makes me realize how very important a community is for us all.

Life can be fantastic, filled with all kinds of amazing things, if you let it.

There are times too when it just isn't all that fantastic and you need that community to lighten your load, lift you back to your feet and wrap their arms around you until you gain your strength back.

I've been fortunate to witness incredible acts of generosity during times of adversity.

And I always find it inspirational.

It pushes me to look beyond myself and try to see the needs of others.

To wonder how I might lighten some one's load,

lift them to their feet,

wrap my arms around them until they can absorb some strength to stand on their own again.

From a simple home cooked meal to a bright bunch of flowers.  From acquaintances becoming friends when they come in and fold your laundry, scrub your floors, play with your children so your mind can wander, just for a little while before reality comes back.

Watching that unspoken affection for others makes me proud to live where I live and know the people I know.

There are good people here in my town.

I hope that everyone facing adversity has that community, can find those who shore up their souls, and warm their hearts again.

Life is fragile yet fantastic.

And I try not to take it for granted, each and every day is a blessing for which I'm thankful no matter how much I might grumble from time to time.