& i am here, asking you to give peace a chance. in these trying times, all we see is hate. we feel hate. we hear hate. & yet, hate is a difficult emotion. it causes stress. it breaks relationships. it generates commotion.
on the other hand, love is an easier, sweeter emotion. an emotion that can inspire, create, and invite peace.
hatred is described as the most destructive human trait rising from internal forces of self preservation from fear of others. the only way to stop it is to love yourself first. yes, yourself. after all, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
yet, this didn’t come easy for me. i have lived my life as a perfectionist, constantly putting pressure on myself to excel academically, recreationally and socially. my parents wanted me to become a doctor, while i wanted to become a chef or a hockey player. regardless, i became a doctor. not following my passions drained love and kindness from my daily interactions.
one day, i volunteered to perform eye exams for inner city youths. in my attempt to break the ice, i would make jokes or talk a little about their day. a specific young lady was especially withdrawn. i tried talking to her, but she wouldn’t respond. i complimented her necklace, and she gazed into my eyes and silently welled up in tears. she then spoke her first words to me, “that’s the first nice thing anyone has ever said to me.” that is the day my perspective changed.
two words, “pretty necklace,” had changed her entire attitude & potentially her life. two words made her feel special.
i realized then that i had the power, & WE ALL have the power, to spread love and appreciation with simple words and gestures. i learned from this girl not to be afraid to be imperfect or make mistakes, and we should rather not making an impact on another person’s life. little goes a long way, and every day, a little becomes a lot.
so, smile at a stranger. leave a big tip. compliment someone. people will never forget how you make them feel, so why not have them remember you fondly?
