Life

Life is hard. The years go by and each era has a new lesson. More growth and understanding. More passion and compassion. More commitment and contentment. The years go by and the lessons are learned. Guess what. Life wins!

There is great love and great loss. There are moments that take your breath away and moments when you wish it was all over. Good times. Bad times. Lean times and times of plenty.

Our lives are like pieces of a puzzle. Each piece has a place where it fits; the good, the bad, the happy, the sad. All those pieces fit together to create our personal picture. We need each and every piece to complete our life. We also need each of the people that come into our lives…

I don’t care where you come from. I don't care if you are black, white, brown or pink with purple polka dots, I don’t care who you vote for, I don’t care where you live, what you drive, what you wear or any other nonsense that people use to judge you. I do care about your heart. I care if you show empathy. I care if you show compassion. I care if you have integrity. I care if you are kind. Even though there were some very difficult times, I’m grateful for the challenges I’ve lived through.

Hard lessons taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life. Kindness is strength. Kindness makes you humble but it also makes you confident. Life isn’t about tearing others down, it’s about building others up. Difficulties, trials and struggles are never easy but without them, we can’t become the best version of ourselves. Be the type of person that makes everyone you come across, feel perfectly secure being exactly who they are.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a hug. A kind word, a listening ear, or an honest compliment. The smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around. Be that person. Practice kindness and compassion. You never know how it will change someone’s life…and how it will change yours.

By: Sarah Pope