Pass it Along

 

Yesterday, I had an exchange with a stranger that really put a smile on my face.  It surprised me, on a day when I wasn't really feeling that light.

I have a bumper sticker on the back of my car (somewhat crookedly...) that says "I hope something good happens to you today".  I bought this bumper sticker on a whim when I was buying some gift items during an online sale.  

Something that some people may not know about me is that I am an avid gift giver.  It is definitely my outward love language and I pride myself on being able to give gifts that really fit a person.  In fact, I have two large storage bins filled with gift items that I've bought over the years, so that I'm always ready if I need a last minute gift.

I have always been better at giving gifts than I have been at receiving them.  I recently re-took the love languages quiz to see where I landed on it for what I need for myself.  Interestingly enough, how I express my love for others is not how I best receive it myself.  You can see my results below:


It seems that I benefit most from words of affirmation and acts of service, yet I'm also someone who struggles to accept compliments or help.  Ironic, no?  It seems that way to me because it can sometimes feel like I'm fighting off those who are trying to show me that they love me.

But, when I'm caught off guard, or my defenses are down, words of affirmation can make a big difference.

Take yesterday afternoon for instance.  I was rushing to fill my car up with gas at my local station (something that makes anyone a little upset right now as gas prices are almost $5 a gallon in MA) and get back to my desk for one final meeting.

I heard the gas pump click, signaling that I would be getting my credit card back and be on my way soon.  My mind was already thinking ahead to what I needed to accomplish with the rest of my day.  I reached over to grab my credit card and said 'Thank you' to the attendant.  His response was to smile and say, in somewhat broken English, 'I hope something good happens to you too".  I hadn't thought about that bumper sticker much since I bought it.  I know the hope I had when I put it on my car was that it would bring others joy, but I never expected that to be returned to me.

I wasn't focusing on the good at that moment - my mind was filled with stress and to-dos.  Perhaps that's what it takes to be open to words of affirmation? I can acknowledge that accepting this positive energy is something that I personally need to work on, but is it something that everyone could work on?

There's so much negativity and bad news in our world right now.  Amongst my network, I've heard friends, family and colleagues say things like the following often lately:

  • 'The world has gone to shit'
  • 'Oh great, another disaster to survive'
  • 'I don't watch the news because it's too depressing'
  • 'What is going on'
  • 'I'm just so tired of all the bad news'
It seems like there's a pattern of shock and collective trauma most places you look right now.  Whether it be COVID-19 still hanging around like an ex that just can't let go of the past, another school shooting, politics being a stew of mud-slinging so thick that it's hard to get to the truth, or even just waking up on the wrong side of the bed.... the fact of the matter is, it's now taking conscious effort for most people to stay positive.

I'm not sure that I have a solution and I struggle to stay positive some days too.  But this small comment from a stranger shook me free of the heads-down fog, if only for a moment.  And it also inspired me.  It inspired me to keep investing energy in others around me, both familiar and unknown.

So, on that note, I hope that something incredibly good happens to you today!  And that whether it comes from a stranger or a friend, you can accept that love with open arms.

<3 Vicky







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Waves

Image
I've recently started doing some research on the recommendations for women when they begin trying to conceive (TTC - a new abbreviation that I've become aware of).  The internet, as many of us know, can sometimes be a bit of a black hole.  You go in looking for one thing and come out with a million more questions and even more confusion than you started with.  Which is why, I didn't JUST go to the internet.  I also sent texts out to all of my friends who are already mommas and asked them to share with me what they did during this stage. What I received from friends was a sense of excitement that this journey was close to beginning for me, knowledge sharing about what worked for them, questions about the timing we were considering, and ultimately just support and an offer of being there for whatever questions come up during my research & the process in general. I maybe shouldn't have chosen the week of my period to dive into all of this.... as most women know, hor...
Read more

Younger

Image
I have two fabulous friends who both work in the TV/film industry as second assistant directors.  I wish I could say that I was even one tenth the connoisseur of their art as they are, but sadly I only dabble.  I just recently started watching a show that one of them worked on a few seasons of -  Younger .  More on that later...    This weekend, I found myself getting the scary news that one of my best friends was suddenly in the hospital.  This friend is a generally healthy, active, and wonderful individual.  Their partner texted me early one morning that they had an arterial dissection on the back of their head at the base of their neck. I'm not happy to share that I've actually had two other close friends go through something terrifyingly similar over the past few years.  Neither of these friends were really given a clear answer as to why they had these episodes.  The recovery, though lengthy and requiring close monitoring near the ...
Read more

Stoplight

Image
I've recently started seeing a new therapist.  As you may have seen from my last post, I've also been thinking about visiting smash rooms to let out emotions (still haven't managed to try one out yet!).   For me, therapy has always been a space where I am able to get vulnerable and real with someone who really doesn't know me.  And even though it happens every time I return to therapy for support, I'm always surprised to hear the shock that many mental health professionals have at my steadfast and lofty standards, for myself exclusively.  These standards, of course, began for me at a very young age. In psychology, the concept of nature vs. nurture is often discussed.  This is the idea that both nature and nurture play a role in how someone turns out. Experiments have shown that even identical twins can develop significant differences when they grow up in different environments.  Most research, however, eventually posits that both nature and nurtu...
Read more