Assume others need kindness and acknowledgement. Because odds are, they do.

www.grateful4.org

Gratitude

Intention

First

Things

The G.I.F.T. Today

Grateful: for the ability to be healthy enough to have “left over” to help others thrive. My jam.

Intention-be like a Taoist dog and go with the flow bro

First-yoga

Things-touch base Andy again

Morning Meditation from The GratiDude

When you’re expected to feel a certain way or have a reaction to satisfy other people in a particular situation, you feel under pressure to perform some times. A Family Dinner for example, you are expected to be happy and you should feel certain emotions. If you don’t feel what “you’re supposed to feel”, you feel like there’s something wrong with you.

There could be a joyous event going on, a celebration at work for someone’s birthday and your emotional state may not allow you to rise to that occasion from a frequency or an energy standpoint. You may have to sit this one out.

I’m reflecting on this today as we know that there is an epidemic of loneliness in the United States and that, depending on whose study you listen to, about 70% of people report feeling lonely at one point or another during the Holiday Season.

7 out of 10 people!!

When the messaging around the holiday time of the year is “joy to the world“, and if you’re not feeling “joyful “, you feel like you’re not a part of the world.

If people are already feeling lonely before the holidays, you can imagine what all these expectations and messaging do to their internal state. You can imagine that on top of being lonely you would also feel left out ostracized in some way, and an outcast in your community if you are not celebrating with family and friends and have a smile on your face.

I only mention this today in the case that you were out today and over the next few days, and what if you just assumed that the people that you encounter are part of this significant populous that are not feeling good right now? You would be extra kind!

Don’t be fooled by the smile of some strangers(like Smokey Robinson sang the tears of a clown) and instead do your best to make eye contact and ask sincerely how are you doing today? Take a deep breath and make room for a response, whether it’s energetic or with words.

That is all you need to do because for the right person this will be everything and exactly what the doctor ordered.

When they feel your sincere energy, the right person just might respond “I’m actually having a tough time, right now.”

Tell me about it.

Me? I grab the stranger and hug them(if they are adults) and start there.

Yes, a small act of kindness can potentially save a life, as it can provide much-needed support, hope, or a sense of connection to someone who might be struggling, potentially preventing them from taking drastic actions; even a simple kind word or gesture can make a significant impact on someone’s life in a critical moment.

Key points to consider:

Impact on mental health:

Kindness can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are major contributors to mental health issues.

Ripple effect:

A small act of kindness can inspire others to do the same, creating a positive ripple effect within a community.

Never underestimate the power of a kind word:

A simple gesture like a smile, a compliment, or asking someone if they are okay can make an enormous difference

Keeping in mind that there’s such a disconnect behind the messages and the religious teachings and historical narratives around Christmas that you can’t blame folks for feeling down or feeling gloomy. It seems everything is about material gifts and money during Christmas due to all of the business that is generated, and what an economic “key cog” the holiday season is.

You also have to consider the fact that the demographics of the United States have changed considerably over the last hundred years and while there are tremendous amount of Catholic immigrants that have come to the United States from Latin America, especially in the last 20 years, there is also been a steady influx of Asian immigrants from all over Asia Most of whom have different traditions around this time of year that don’t involve Christmas.

Another thing to keep in mind is just how difficult and traumatic relative poverty is when you were in an affluent society. The chatter in conversation at public schools after the holidays about what you receive for Christmas can often be traumatic and humiliating for kids that live in poverty and don’t get shit for Christmas. You dread those conversations at school and God forbid you must author an essay about what you got for Christmas cause the fucking page will be blank.

Let’s always look out for the underdog everywhere all the time and put into action the concept that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that rising tide raises all boats.

Or, simply that we are all siblings of creation of the universe and from the source of all love, energy, and life. That should be enough for you to lend a hand up energetically to share the love and kindness in your heart during this holiday season and that is an attitude of gratitude.

EVERY DAY:

Love

and

Gratitude

https://www.instagram.com/GratiDude_abides

Thanks for reading The’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

KevinACarpenter@gmail.com/941.894.8030

Thank you sincerely.

IN LIFE AND GOLF, GET BETTER…..NOW!

HERE: https://grateful4.org

Every day, every way, grateful. 

KC

I am here to help, add somebody that needs a “check up from the neck up”

KevinACarpenter@gmail.com

Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Thanks for reading the GratiDude’s Substack!