The power of being gentle

I swear the universe was on my side today when I encountered a friend's tweet about "A love letter for anyone who needs some calm and kindness in their life." He shared a link to Sarah Lillian O'Connell's powerful words that could not have come at a better time for me. I hope her message also resonates with you because I've discovered that too often it's easy to forget the importance of being gentle.

Be Gentle

Be gentle with yourself.

Walk with purpose and poise.

A stubbed toe can bring down the best of us.

Be kind to yourself.

Mistakes do not define us.

A typo in an email or missed appointment is not representative of our character.

Be aware of your environment.

Surround yourself with beauty.

If you can’t afford beauty, find a park, a free museum, a clear sky.

Be in touch with yourself.

Release your pain with physical acts.

Run fast or run slow, cry hard or cry loud – how else can one feel alive?

Be mindful of yourself.

Allow a screenless silence into your day.

Put away the phone, the laptop; turn off the TV, the radio.

Be present to those around you.

Loved ones reflect the best in ourselves and in the world.

Walk your dog, hug your cat; kiss your partner, your mom, your best friend.

Be gracious for what you have.

Physical objects are temporal; they cannot define you.

Don’t buy the curtains or new purse; find joy in a clean home and a favorite shirt.

Be trusting of the future.

Worry cannot create a new reality.

Put your faith in God, the universe, your family, yourself – whoever speaks to you.

Be gentle with yourself.