KINDNESS IS SHOCKING

“Give people their flowers while they’re here” always interest me when I hear it. 

I immediately ask myself when was the last time the person who said it or wrote it actually gave someone their flowers? Like, how often do they do it themselves?

I’m not asking on a basis of trying to catch them being hypocritical. I’m asking because I’m really interested in when was the last time they actually gave someone their flowers. 

I’m not talking about none of those drunk I love you speeches. I’m talking sober as fuck and you thought to send a message or a phone call to let someone know that they’re appreciated and you appreciate what they do.

Usually we hear this a lot when people pass away which I understand. Death brings a different type of clarity when it’s fresh but how many will actually change their ways and give people their flowers while they’re here after? After the funeral over it’s back regular scheduled programming. You might have 1 or 2 people out of hundreds or thousands that change and show new consistency in their behavior. 

We also hear and see people sing others praises when that person has achieved something. We see it. We show them love and go about our business. I won’t say it’s fake that we do that. You weren’t thinking about that person, they achieved something cool and now they’re on your mind so you show love. 

Today send somebody you don’t talk to often some words of encouragement. I guarantee they will be shocked that you did. 

What I’m basically saying is that random support or kindness on any scale shocks people and that’s sad to me. It really makes me sad because it shows we have a long way to go in our community. 

It shows that kindness and support aren’t practiced enough. Everybody is busy or think they’re busy. Everybody is on the go. Some people just simply don’t want to be bothered by anybody so they keep to themselves. Some people feel weird and anxious about it. Love is only shown when something good happens or when something bad happens. It’s never shown on a random Tuesday at 2:13 PM in May and thats a problem. 

I like to go for walks. I think about random people all the time. If I think of somebody I haven’t seen or heard from in a while I will send something to them right there. One day I was reading a book at this lake and this quote I read made me think of someone who could use it so I texted them the quote and asked them “Are you good?” It made their day. If I think of people I send something to them that hopefully makes their day. 

I love random acts of kindness because of that quote everybody always says which is “You never know what someone is going through.” I like to reverse it and bring to life my own saying which is “You never know when someone is going to bless you.” Regardless if it’s a big or small blessing or if it’s words or something you can physically hold something is on it’s way to you. 

I don’t want to make this about me but I’m an emotional person. I’m very passionate. I like to support people as much as I can. Especially if they’re having a bad day. I will do everything I can to at least bring some type of light to someone’s bad day and that shocks people. I’ve had people ask me why I did something kind for them. I’ve had people say their own family or partner don’t really check on them which makes me feel awful.

I wanna keep this short so I just want to end with let’s make random support normal.  Let’s make random check up’s normal. Let’s give random kindness to each other to the point it’s to be expected. 

Peace, Benny