Kindness Can Be Simple And Small
I touched on this story last week on the LLG socials stories. I want to dive into the details a bit more here!
5 months ago I was going through (what I thought) a very tough season in my life. I hated being alone and I had very little concern in completing my daily chores.
I have a love-hate relationship with laundry. I find it very therapeutic because it is a very mindless chore and makes you feel accomplished when you step back and see what you did.
When I have busy life get in the way it’s easy for me to push off little things like putting my laundry away. When I was in this rough patch 5 months ago, my laundry started piling up. Gina noticed this and nicely said, "If you need help putting your laundry away, I'll gladly help. Just tell me when you want to do it." I remember smiling at her and gently nodding my head. It was such a simple offer for help but it made me feel so loved. To be loved is to be seen. I felt seen in that moment and countless other times with beautiful Gina. She had such a big heart for her loved ones.
I can't remember now if we put my laundry away together or not- but, that's not the point. The point is to notice when people are struggling and gently ask to help. Like Gina would often do. Or even better, she would help without question.
Not long after Gina died, my laundry was piling up like no other. I had zero energy to do it. With no questions asked, two of my dear friends, Adrienne & Ava offered me help. We spent the half hour together folding and hanging up my clothes. Just a few days before this, I came upstairs to my room. I was welcomed to my laundry basket full of clean clothes and folded towels. I smiled when I noticed what my loved ones (I think my aunts) did for me without asking.
They have no idea how much they reminded me of Gina and that moment specifically. They reminded me that I wasn’t alone and that they see me. They met me where I was and showed me love through their actions. The most powerful form of love in my opinion. They brought me joy in the midst of my grief.
So, be like Gina today. Notice the ones who need help. Offer them help or just do it anyway. It can be a small thing. Being kind in general is enough.
Let’s #LiveLikeGina today and everyday! - Dinah Schaffer
