Be kind. Freakin' period!

You often see posts with things like, "You never know what someone is going through. Be kind, always", and variations of this. It always makes me pause and acknowledge that absolute truth, but even more so when you or your child is the recipient of an unwelcome comment.

People often put on a brave face for work, school, and even when simply out getting groceries. We present one together-ish version of ourselves, while secretly we are dealing with so many different and difficult things. If our outside matched our insides, people might actually be concerned. No one truly knows all of the things whirling around inside someone else's head at any given time.

Illness, grief, finances, relationships, parenting, bullying, any kind or struggle, big or small-people struggle. No one's life is perfect. Ever. 

I am SO tired of rude, invalidating, inconsiderate comments! I am so tired of people passing off rude comments as "joking" around, saying terrible things to, or about, someone and thinking it's ok. Young, old, all genders, all races, all religions, all humans-unkind words can REALLY hurt!

No one likes to be hurt. No one likes to have their awesome new outfit crapped on. No one wants to be told they'd "Win most likely to commit suicide". No one wants to be the recipient of rude stares and laughs. NO ONE! So why does ANYONE think it's ok to be unkind to another human?! 

We have bad days and act a little snappy, sure. We feel under the weather and perhaps reply with a little extra sass than we really meant, but that said, there is ZERO excuse to be outwardly rude, mean, or controlling towards another human. EVER! 

Covid did a real number on many people. I think this is evident in our schools and truly, in community. We forgot how to be kind. We forgot how to support each other and work together! Even the basic things like the toilet paper crisis created feelings of "every human for themselves!" This is NOT the way to thrive! It is time to remember kindness! It is time to acknowledge how so many people are struggling, especially with mental health. It is time to be better!!

Please remind the people in your life to be kind. It's so very necessary.