I will preach and preach and preach again on being gentle with people. 

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE GENTLE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

People think really hard about doing sweet things for one another but they don’t think twice about flipping the bird in traffic, being aggressive with other people, or even just tearing other people down.

THAT SHOULD BOTHER PEOPLE. It should bother you, me, your neighbor, your brother, your cousin, your uncle, everyone. Whether you’re black or blue or purple or white or green or something in between THAT SHOULD BOTHER YOU. 

At this point in time people will effortlessly berate others and are shy to smile at a stranger. I get that. This is a post 9/11 world and we are all afraid of what our neighbors are capable of. Fine. Be afraid… But don’t ever think, “Yeah, I’m fully living.” I’m sure I’m stepping on some toes here. FINE. Fact of the matter is this: If you have a crippling fear of kindness to strangers YOU AREN’T LIVING. If you don’t feel like you can smile or tell someone to have a nice day (and REALLY mean it) and all you have is a cold shoulder for the outside world then you are just kidding yourself.

This is a hard world in which I am telling each and every one of you to remain soft. 

Listen. A lot of this I write to remind myself, but I feel really strongly about taking care of your friends and neighbors and yes even strangers.

To err on the side of caution is not to be hard with the world. I’m sick of seeing that.

(Sorry not sorry for being sassy.)

XOXO,

NBNealie