They call it Minnesota nice for a reason. People you have never met will smile at you, say hello to you, ask you how you're doing and some will go as far as to compliment you on every element of your life, whether their assertions true or not. To some it can be suffocating, but to many, especially those of us from Minnesota, it's comforting. Feeling that sense of community and LOVE from people who genuinely have a lot of love to give.
It's a characteristic of the Midwest I have grown to miss. The optimism, simplicity and everyday happiness that you feel while standing in the middle of a corn field or laughing in your sweatpants over coffee, with a friend or often times someone you have just met while standing in line.
Moving out to Boston six years ago and jumping into the unknown East Coast community has proven to be quite different. At first it took a lot of getting used to. Not everybody smiles at you while you pass by, not everybody says hello to you just to say hello and forget it if you get a compliment because your shirt really is that cool. Not that it's a bad thing, it's a different environment, with a different history and varying set of values. Neither culture better than the other, just different.
I'm currently in Arizona visiting my grandparents, all four of them. There is something peaceful about being the only one under 50 in this complex. It's an interesting dynamic to observe, unique conversation to be a part of with varying perspectives on life, respect and love.
This morning my grandfather found out a close friend of his passed away. His reaction was "God dammit, I just talked to him before I came down here. He was one if the nicest guys." Then, five minutes later "God dammit." While loss of his friends is getting more and more common in his 75th year, it was fascinating observing such a sad moment in my grandfathers life. There were no tears, no complaints, just an abundance of stories about this man that I had never met before but felt like I knew so much about simply by listening. I learned he was a nice guy, 'one of the nicest guys that lived'. He would help anybody and he always had a positive outlook on his life.
It got me to thinking about my next blog post, this one. Why is it people have such a difficult time showing love, lending a helping hand or offering a simple smile to people they do not know? Not all people, but I would say more young people have this idea that love is this four letter word that can only be touched when this amazing-once-in-a-lifetime-person comes into your life.
I understand, as I've been told more than several times in my life that "it's not realistic" for everyone to get along and that I'm too optimistic and that that's just not how life is. But, love is only a four letter word and showing someone love is as simple as a quiet good morning smile. It's as simple as a one sentence email wishing an old friend a good day or a genuine thank you to the person replacing the paper towel rolls in the bathroom at work. It's those little gestures that make a persons' day and spreads a little love where it may have not been before.
While LOVE does carry varying levels of meaning when used in certain contexts and is used by different people in many different ways, what is wrong with simply loving? Loving your friends, your family, your significant other, the people you work with, or a stranger on the street you have just met?
I challenge you to tell someone you love them today. Or better yet, show someone you love them with a simple gesture. After the tragic Sandy Hook event that took place in December, members of the Facebook and Twitter community started spreading #26actsofkindness. While, it was nice and thoughtful, why did it take such a tragic event for everyday people to start showing love?
Spread love today. You will be surprised by the people you may meet. It's amazing what that simple four letter word can do for someone. If that's too difficult I urge you to smile at someone today. A simple smile, it's free, beautiful, and can be a day maker for many.
Lets start creating a few more rainbows and unicorns in this world. Today. As Buddha says, "The trouble is, you think you have time."
So much LOVE,
Abby
This post was inspired by many little things that happened yesterday:
1)This video, which is awesome. You’ll Never Believe What These Adults Found In This Ball Pit
2)The song Hold On by Wilson Phillips, which came on my iPod at least three times yesterday. "Just open your heart and your mind."
3) And my grandparents, all four of them, who have taught me so many simple life lessons.
It's a characteristic of the Midwest I have grown to miss. The optimism, simplicity and everyday happiness that you feel while standing in the middle of a corn field or laughing in your sweatpants over coffee, with a friend or often times someone you have just met while standing in line.
Moving out to Boston six years ago and jumping into the unknown East Coast community has proven to be quite different. At first it took a lot of getting used to. Not everybody smiles at you while you pass by, not everybody says hello to you just to say hello and forget it if you get a compliment because your shirt really is that cool. Not that it's a bad thing, it's a different environment, with a different history and varying set of values. Neither culture better than the other, just different.
I'm currently in Arizona visiting my grandparents, all four of them. There is something peaceful about being the only one under 50 in this complex. It's an interesting dynamic to observe, unique conversation to be a part of with varying perspectives on life, respect and love.
This morning my grandfather found out a close friend of his passed away. His reaction was "God dammit, I just talked to him before I came down here. He was one if the nicest guys." Then, five minutes later "God dammit." While loss of his friends is getting more and more common in his 75th year, it was fascinating observing such a sad moment in my grandfathers life. There were no tears, no complaints, just an abundance of stories about this man that I had never met before but felt like I knew so much about simply by listening. I learned he was a nice guy, 'one of the nicest guys that lived'. He would help anybody and he always had a positive outlook on his life.
It got me to thinking about my next blog post, this one. Why is it people have such a difficult time showing love, lending a helping hand or offering a simple smile to people they do not know? Not all people, but I would say more young people have this idea that love is this four letter word that can only be touched when this amazing-once-in-a-lifetime-person comes into your life.
I understand, as I've been told more than several times in my life that "it's not realistic" for everyone to get along and that I'm too optimistic and that that's just not how life is. But, love is only a four letter word and showing someone love is as simple as a quiet good morning smile. It's as simple as a one sentence email wishing an old friend a good day or a genuine thank you to the person replacing the paper towel rolls in the bathroom at work. It's those little gestures that make a persons' day and spreads a little love where it may have not been before.
While LOVE does carry varying levels of meaning when used in certain contexts and is used by different people in many different ways, what is wrong with simply loving? Loving your friends, your family, your significant other, the people you work with, or a stranger on the street you have just met?
I challenge you to tell someone you love them today. Or better yet, show someone you love them with a simple gesture. After the tragic Sandy Hook event that took place in December, members of the Facebook and Twitter community started spreading #26actsofkindness. While, it was nice and thoughtful, why did it take such a tragic event for everyday people to start showing love?
Spread love today. You will be surprised by the people you may meet. It's amazing what that simple four letter word can do for someone. If that's too difficult I urge you to smile at someone today. A simple smile, it's free, beautiful, and can be a day maker for many.
Lets start creating a few more rainbows and unicorns in this world. Today. As Buddha says, "The trouble is, you think you have time."
So much LOVE,
Abby
This post was inspired by many little things that happened yesterday:
1)This video, which is awesome. You’ll Never Believe What These Adults Found In This Ball Pit
2)The song Hold On by Wilson Phillips, which came on my iPod at least three times yesterday. "Just open your heart and your mind."
3) And my grandparents, all four of them, who have taught me so many simple life lessons.
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