A Kinder Place

©Cherie Lewis Photography 2016

A few days ago I found myself feeling insignificant. I looked back at this photograph from September and thought to myself, "I just want to GO." This is not unusual for me. I always want to go. Part of my college experience was grounded in wanting to go. Road trips are my favorite hobby. When I can merge road trips, photography and writing into one grand adventure that will pay me enough to live on, that's exactly what I will be doing. But why?

Since finishing college a few weeks ago, I've been revamping my resume, my cover letter, my various pages posted on job boards. Its been busy work. The interviews I have conjured up have asked similar questions to those I was asked pre-college. The one kicker is this: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Well, heck, I don't know! If you've read my previous blog post, I'm a gypsy. I don't see myself anywhere but here, right now, and if I can plan tomorrow, you've caught me on a highly organized day! There is but one goal that drives me that I will accomplish not only in five years, but in every day that follows today:

I want to make the world a kinder place. 

I do have dreams and goals and desires. I'm not so much a nomad that I don't hope one day I will be settling into something and maybe even someone wonderful. But in all that I've experienced in these chaotic 52 years of life, I have learned the world is a horribly cruel place to reside. 

I had a list of things I disliked about the world that I was going to post. I decided to delete that. Why fuel what is already there? I choose today, to start making the world a kinder place. And every day for the next five years. By then it is going to be a habit that won't be broken. 

That photo above? The one that makes me want to go? It represents peace, escape, beauty, a kinder place. It represents the kinder place God opens up to me when an unkind world threatens to unravel me. It makes me breathe, relax, feel at peace for the moments I am in its vast beauty. I want to BE that!  

I decided a more appropriate list would be one of kindnesses that are easily done to make the world a kinder place every day, one moment, one person at a time. 

1. Smile. There's been way too much attention given lately to the "resting bitch face." (Pardon the language, and yes, its a real thing). Practice your "resting babe face" instead! Not your selfie face, but the delighted, loving life face that comes naturally when you're happy. Yes, that one. Share that one. With a stranger, your brother, your boss. 
2. Pick up trash. It doesn't even have to be someone else's! Just don't leave your own. But why not pick up someone else's? If you're already headed to a trash can with your own, grab that empty whatever it is and toss it, too. 
3. Ask permission. Its not that hard to say "Can I help you with that?" and then open the door, or grab the grocery bag slipping out of someone's arm, or pick up the books that just fell off a crowded stack at the bookstore.
4. Choose. I know I awakened many days to a house of six children and the thought of moving forward made me roll my eyes at them. If you're honest, moms, most of you have done this. I have many regrets about choosing eye-rolling over smiling at them. While you are having a bad day, they are too. A little kindness to your kids goes a long way. 
5. Choose. Yes, I know I already said that, but bosses, this one is for you. You can have authority, and still act kindly. Critique, don't criticize; encourage, don't defeat; empathize, don't exasperate. Do numbers one through three. Dads? This one's for you, too.
6. Give up that parking space. In a crowded parking lot? Drive past that space and let the guy behind you have it. 
7. Don't ignore it. If you see something that COULD be kind, then be the one to make it kinder. 

Be a kinder person. One person, one kindness at a time IS going to make a difference. Be a road trip, be that beautiful, peaceful place for someone. Make the world a kinder place.