Kindness LIVES In Connecticut: Want Proof?
It’s true. Just when you’re ready to give up on people, I discovered that kindness lives in Connecticut.
I’m still delightfully stunned.
Good Ole Fashion New England Kindness Is Alive
This past Saturday night, Heidi and I were at the Woodstock Fair in Connecticut to see Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed. We always bring two portable, foldup camping chairs, to hold a spot for the show. We placed the chairs in a spot on the grass, like we do each year and then get some fun fair food. As we came back, I sat down in the chair. It BROKE right through, plunging me to the ground! Turns out, someone had sat in it, as we were gone and broke it.
It Was A TV Sitcom Fall
My fall through the chair, was like when you slip and fall on the ice. You hit the ground HARD. It took a moment to recoup from that shocking, embarrassing and YET kind of funny incident. I was so shocked at what happened, I didn’t notice anyone around me. Since MY chair was now broken my amazing wife, Heidi sat down on the grass next to me to begin her nurse like love, bringing me out of my shock. I know I sound dramatic, but it was a physical comedy FULL COLLAPSE moment, like on a TV sitcom with John Ritter on Three’s Company. I could have sworn I heard a laugh track.
Prepare To Be Stunned
What happened NEXT changed the trajectory of the night. The next thing I know, A TOTAL stranger, who witnessed the whole thing, appears with HIS brand new portable chair and says, “Here you go man. Enjoy the show.” What? What just happened? This amazingly kind stranger quietly went to his car, got HIS extra chair and brought it back for ME. I had NEVER met this wonderful guy in my life. He said “keep it.”
Stunned by his heartfelt gesture, I asked him his name. He said “Bob Roy, Warwick RI.” I said “wow….we got married at Conimicut Point in Warwick..!”
He screamed back: “What….? That’s where we LIVE!!!!”
There were at least a THOUSAND PEOPLE on the grass. Coincidence? Bob’s kindness erased the awkward moment, and helped us reset and enjoy the evening.
Thank you Bob. You have proven that kindness lives in Connecticut.
9 Positive Phrases a Harvard Psychologist Says You Should Use Everyday
9. I'm Letting This Go
The Dr says, “developing resilience requires getting to a place where you can see difficult life circumstances for what they are, and actively choosing to let them go.” When you can let the little and sometime big things go, you are on your way to a better you!
8. It Is What It Is
“The key to resilience is not denying reality or seeking out a reason that makes us feel better about why something happened.” Like football coaches preach, you are what your record says you are.
7. I Still Have Things To Be Grateful For
“We are hardwired to notice threats to our well-being but people who are resilient find a way to turn towards the positive even in times of difficulty.” As your grandmother might have said, “count your blessings.”
6. I Need Some Time
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“A key component of resilience is emotional flexibility, or the ability to regulate your feelings, and reduce their intensity in a given situation.” Sometimes you need to step back and take stock of things, you might have a better perspective with just a little more time.
5. What Can I Learn From This?
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
“Openness to experiences and ability to shift your perspective. Ask, why did this happen to me too what can I take from this to help me grow? Can help you better navigate through life‘s inevitable ups and downs.” Life’s learning lessons continue long after you finish school.
4. This, Too Shall Pass
“For resilient people believe that setbacks and challenges can feel horrible in the moment, but that nothing in life is permanent. It doesn’t mean that the pain will go away entirely, but it does mean that we can work to make them less traumatic over time.”
3. Life Is Hard
(Mike Hutmacher/Wichita Eagle/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Resilience is associated with a basic acceptance that life isn’t always fair and that we all experience emotional hardships excepting this truth helps people to not take things personally.” Nobody ever said life is easy, it can be hard a lot of the time, so when you accept that it’s natural to have struggles, the more you will be able to face those hardships.
2. I'm Not Going To Let Myself Be A Victim
“Being resilient means that when you experience the pain of this treatment you shift your perspective from I’m a victim and powerless to help myself to. How can I grow from this?
1. I Can Get Through This
“Emotional resilience is associated with grit and mental toughness. There is an understanding that we have to be strong and overcome adversity without letting it break us.” This is a powerful affirmation that you should use whenever you’re feeling up against a hard time, remind yourself that yes, I can get through this, than you give yourself a fighting chance.
