One of the most important things any one of us can do is, without question, to be kind. We live in a world that is filled with loss and grief and I can promise you that someone you cross paths with today is grieving.

Grief is everywhere yet grief does not always make an appearance in plain sight for all the world to witness and see. Grief is often hidden and it is sometimes difficult to know when someone is truly grieving, struggling or having a hard time.

If someone falls and breaks a leg, the evidence of that pain and struggle is obvious. There might be a cast, brace or crutches. There is no disputing the hardship and pain of a broken bone.

The pain of grief and a broken heart are not easily healed or recognized. And, society often runs away from grief instead of towards it to help.

We live in a society that thrives on checklists. There are tons of articles and blog posts eager to share tips on how to achieve success, lose weight, sleep better or discover the life of your dreams. In just 10 easy steps…

But what about grief? The culture of positivity doesn’t always work when it comes to loss and grief. Grief is not something to be fixed. It is not a puzzle to be solved and in truth, the pressure to heal quickly, be positive and move on doesn’t work for most people trying to find their way through a journey they never asked to take.

Society needs people who are grieving to heal quickly. To mend all that is broken and to find a way to be happy, positive and to move on.

Reality check in the world of grief. That is easier said than done.

Everyone grieves differently. It is a unique and personal journey without timelines. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and grief can be unpredictable from one day to the next.

It IS hard to know when someone is grieving and it is impossible to know on any given day what someone is going through. There are no crutches, casts or bandages to shout, “we have a broken heart here so please be kind.”

Grief is often hidden but will manifest itself in ways that are confusing. Most people expect grievers to be sad. It is one of the first “signs” to look for. But this isn’t necessarily true. Grief is not linear and doesn’t follow a blueprint or straight line.

Grief is messy and shows up in many different ways. Ways that we as a society, don’t always recognize as grief. Grief can be anger, anxiety, exhaustion and irritability. It can show up as sadness, confusion, distraction or physical illness. The list goes on.

So - keeping that in mind - remember to be patient and kind.

The cashier who was crabby this morning might be grieving. The student who keeps falling asleep at their desk might be grieving. The employee who seems distracted might be grieving. The neighbor who is angry over a small misunderstanding might be grieving.

It is impossible to know what another is going through but it IS POSSIBLE to be kind. You can make a difference in the lives of others through compassion and kindness.

Kindness doesn’t have to show up with loud grand gestures. Some of the smallest acts of kindness mean the most and kindness can literally be a life line for someone when they need it the most.

It is easy to get caught up in the chaos of life and to become ultra focused on checklists and things that don’t matter. It is easy to jump to frustration with others or to take things personally when in the end, someone you crossed paths with is grieving or having a bad day.

You may not be able to easily spot grief or fix it but you can give the gift of kindness everywhere you go. I can promise you that someone you meet today, pass by, interact with or talk to is grieving.

Be kind.

With Love,

Michele