Yeah, it’s advice to myself right now. And I figured I’d hold myself accountable by sharing it with all of you.

I tell myself this, a lot. But after a recent event in which I hurt other people, I am feeling extra low. And one thing I hate is excuses, so when people give them to me, I’m not happy about it and I shouldn’t expect people to be happy with mine. It doesn’t really matter the circumstance. If you do something, whether intentional or not, that was a shitty thing to do, own it, learn from it, grow from it and don’t do it again.

That aside, what I also realized is that I can be kinder on a daily basis. I love Ellen. And every day she reminds me, and the rest of the world, to BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER. It’s easy advice, yet I forget it, far too often. How about you?

My stresses end up coming out in frustration or anger to people that don’t deserve it. Today I tried to start anew. It’s a new month, it’s a new season. It can also be a new me. And a new you, if you want.

I always do the online pickup for my grocery order. A few times ago when I went, I had a young man helping me load the groceries and we got to chatting about football. I had him again today and I remembered his name from the last time, so instead of just sitting in the car, I got out. I said, “Hi NAME,” and told him I remembered him from our last conversation. We high-fived and had a chat while we both loaded the groceries together.

Human connection.

It was a mere five minutes, but we made an otherwise tedious task of getting groceries a fun one, just by chatting.

After that, I stopped at the coffee place and the girl that handed me my order had really beautiful nails. So I told her. And she thanked me and had a big smile on her face as I pulled away. You know how many times I might have thought of giving someone a compliment and then not done it for fear of sounding creepy or making them uncomfortable. What a stupid thought! Compliment. All. The. People.

Human connection.

Actually, this started the other day…

Inadvertently, I was honestly waiting for UPS, I found myself opening the door twice to local politicians walking around with flyers.

Normally, I don’t open my door during the day but this day I did. And again, a few moments of just chatting with people, nice conversation, hearing about what they’d like to do for the community, left me with such a good feeling.

Human connection.

We are very quick to not answer the door, or the phone, or the text. We are quick to bury our heads in our phones in a waiting room or put on headphones waiting to cross the street or pick up the kids. We are quick to judge, to gossip, to act out, to ignore.

Let’s be quick to forgive, to ask for help, to be a support system, to try something new.

Everyone is dealing with their own issues, struggles and challenges. It’s up to us as humans to be as kind and compassionate to others as possible. It’s also up to us to recognize our own faults and forgive ourselves, yet also take steps to better ourselves.

Fall is really the perfect season to embrace something new. The weather has finally turned and the leaves are more beautiful than ever. We should feel as bold and bright as those leaves every single day we get to be here on this Earth.

Hold the door.
Pay for the person in line behind you.
Buy the candy bar from the little kid.
Help the new mom with the grocery bags.
Tell someone how awesome they are today.

My youngest is in preschool and the most gorgeous, giant orange tree sits out in front. All of us moms were joking that we’d taken a photo of it at one point that week. It was that little common bond to chat about, to laugh about.

That tree is a reminder of the beauty of life, the beauty of human connection and how quickly things can, and will, change. Enjoy every moment.

Happy Fall.