Be Kind — You Never Know

Be Kind — You Never Know

I saw a meme recently that said, “Be kind. You never know what someone is going through.” It’s one of those phrases we’ve all heard before, but sometimes it lands differently—deeper—when life cracks us open.

Lately, I’ve come to understand how true this really is. We move through the world seeing smiles, social media posts, brief interactions at the store or in traffic—and we assume we know how someone is doing. But we don’t. Behind the scenes, people are carrying invisible burdens: illness, loss, heartbreak, overwhelm… all the things that never make it to the highlight reel.

A Reiki colleague of mine took her life unexpectedly a while back. I remember racing to her Facebook page, searching for signs of her pain. Could I have helped somehow? Should I have known? The day before, her page was filled with happy, vibrant pictures—no hint of distress. It was such a painful reminder that we can never truly know what someone else is navigating inside.

Even in this time of purposefully induced divisiveness, we can choose to be better humans. Smile. Withhold the unnecessary snarky comment. Scroll on by. Give someone a compliment. Hold a door. Reach out and say hi. Especially now, with the intense energies rolling onto the planet—and with the holidays approaching—we’re all in the blender. And holidays, for many, can be incredibly stressful.

So please—be kind. Be gentle with each other. Offer grace. The small moments—a smile, a kind word, a patient gesture—can make more difference than we realize.

Sometimes, at a stoplight, I’ll glance over at the car next to me. I can feel the tension, the readiness for confrontation. So I smile. They’re often surprised. How easy is that?

You just never know whose life you might be softening with your kindness.
BBH — Be a Better Human.

Much love,
Kelle