Some of the better moments of my parenting life have boiled down to this. Someone took ten seconds out of their lives to help us out. To accommodate us. To include my kiddo.
A simple gesture like the teenager that broke from her gaggle of friends to hold open the door for me when I was carrying/dragging the melting down Kiddo from the mall. She probably went right back to her friends and her life but it made all the difference to me. Two years later, I'm still thinking about her.
"Hang on. Let me see what I can do." I've hear this statement a lot when advocating for my kiddo. Sometimes they come back and they can do something. Sometimes not. Either way, they are trying. I appreciate the effort regardless of the outcome. They are taking ten seconds out of their day for me.
Imagine what you could do with ten seconds for someone else. It is so easy in this autism life to dwell in all the times we have been shunned, scorned and screwed over by folks. What would happen if we all shifted that attitude over to ten seconds of kindness? Not just helping each other out BUT everyone.
What if ten seconds of kindness meant accepting when something couldn't be done for us the way we asked? What if we took that energy of just getting angry and channeled it into looking for a compromise?
What if we just accepted that people ask for help in different ways because their needs are different? What if we didn't shun what they saw as solutions simply because it wouldn't work for us?
What if we all just took ten seconds to take some deep breaths and chill the Hell out a bit?
I think about this daily I think. I appreciate all those little 10 seconds of kindness and try to give them out as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteI try as best as I can to flash a smile to most strangers I see, even if I'm not in a great mood. I will offer to help random people in the store or offer to let people with fewer items than I have cut in front of me at the check-out line. I have had many curious looks from people for doing that (I guess they cannot believe someone can be kind?). It isn't really what you mean, but I like to think that those little random acts of kindness make someone day a little brighter. I know there are days when I wish someone would do the same for me, because it might just be the thing that keeps me from losing what sanity I have left. :)
ReplyDeleteA little empathy goes a long way. A quick smile, a helping hand, a few kind words ... none of them take more than 10 seconds to give. Yet the impact can last for hours, days or, as you pointed out, years!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely one hundred per cent loved this. I still recall those moments of kindness I've experienced, sometimes I call them up in stressful situations and that helps! Beautiful piece, enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteLoving your pictures and the simple and beautiful way you have put your story across - you're an inspiration and I am following your journey - awesome work!
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