Be the Good: A Cart, a Stranger, and a Simple Reminder

I am messy.
Sometimes forgetful. Emotional. Too hard on myself. Too driven to succeed.
And still — I’m learning to see the beauty in all of it.

That’s one of the things I love about plants.
They don’t judge. They don’t care how loud — or quiet — I am.
As long as I give them a little attention now and then, they gift me something simple and vital:
Life. Beauty. Air to breathe.

If I make a mistake, I can fix it.
I can plant again. Try again.
Create the beauty I want to see in the world.
Without judgment. I am free.

Plants are wild, imperfect, vibrant in their own way.
People are like that too.

A Reminder in the Garden Center

This weekend, while wrangling a wobbly cart full of heavy stepping stones at the garden center (because of course I picked the one with a mind of its own), I was stopped unexpectedly by a stranger.

They were parked just a few spots over. Didn’t know me. Didn’t owe me anything. But without hesitation, they offered to help unload my cart. No fuss. No grand gestures. Just kindness.

It didn’t matter their age, gender, or background — what mattered was their choice to act with compassion.

And that stuck with me.

The Power of Small Kindness

We talk a lot about how divided things feel lately — politically, socially, even just emotionally. There’s a heaviness to it all. So often, we move through the day bracing ourselves. For judgment. For criticism. For disappointment. We scroll quickly. We protect our peace. We hold back.

But moments like this one — simple, unplanned, human — remind me that kindness cuts through the noise. It doesn’t need permission or the perfect moment. It doesn’t need a reason. It just needs someone willing to act.

That kind of small kindness might not fix the world. But it does shift something. It changes the tone of a day. It softens a hardened edge. It reminds someone that they’re seen — and that matters more than we often admit.

This Pride Month (and Always)

This Pride Month, remember your humanity.
Remember that we are all beautiful and unique — and at the end of the day, everyone just wants the freedom to be who they are. To be free.

Be kind to one another. The way you want others to be kind to you. Be the good.

Be the quiet kindness in someone’s overwhelming day. Lend a hand when you notice someone carrying a heavy weight — literally or otherwise. Step outside your own judgment. Assume the best. Offer the benefit of the doubt.

Compassion is never wasted. And you never know how much someone might need it.

🌿 Happy Planting. Happy Creating. Happy Pride.