Life is too short for negative energy

February is such a strange month to me. It is  short and there’s usually a lot to get done and deadlines to make. 

School starts to get a little tougher and the weather is more unpredictable. Some days are warm, yet  the next day could bring a snowstorm. It can be confusing, overwhelming and frustrating in my opinion, especially because the beginning of 2020 did not start off well. 

Australia was on fire, everyone thought World War III was going to happen. Australia then flooded, the Corona Virus brought a global health emergency and then the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna shook the world. This year started off bad. There is no easy way to say it. The world has been in distress and in someway I feel like everyone has been affected by the tragic events that happened last month. 

But if there is any advice I can offer for this month, it would be to give back, to be kind. If last month has taught us all anything, it is that life is short and unpredictable. In one month, the world was shook and there are still lasting effects of it. 

Choose to be kind. Even if you’re having a bad day at the store and the line is long and slow. Be kind and patient. In the long-run it really isn’t important. You won’t remember it in a week. If you are in a group project or at a meeting and someone isn’t pulling their weight, be kind when talking to them. You don’t know what is weighing on their heart. Kindly talking to someone rather than aggressively can really make a difference in someone’s day.

Give back to those around you. To those who are close to you and mean a great deal in your life, give back. Take time out of your day to show your appreciation, even if its calling them and leaving a voicemail just letting them know how much they mean to you. 

Take time out of the day to bring coffee to one of your friends. Plan some time with a friend to catch up in person. Check to see if a friend needs anything. You would be surprised by how many people need help and are just waiting for someone to ask and show they care.

Unpredictability is part of life. We get so focused in our routines and absorbed into our lives that when something devastating or tragic happens, it catches us off-guard and we wonder what we could’ve done. 

Be mindful of your life. This might be a strange phrase, but just strolling through life mindlessly will cause you to lose a lot of meaningful opportunities. Be mindful with every moment and make them count. This last month was a testament to never knowing what will happen. So, choose to be kind. Give back to those around you. Be mindful.