Lately, I’ve changed my whole routine and mindset. Something in my core told me it was time to start things anew. I start my days with affirmations, gratitude journaling, yoga practices, and tidying up my room. I have been doing vision boards every month, and everything in those pictures manifests in my life in the most random ways. That’s to say that they aren’t manifesting the way I expected them, but much better.
A bit of change is feeling that my energy is way lighter, and I don’t feel as stressed despite knowing that there’s only a month left of the semester. Things are working out in the most beautiful ways. For example, on a Tuesday afternoon (I have four classes on those days), I had forgotten my wallet in my room and had no way of eating on campus. I was starving and didn’t know what to do until I got an email saying that my 6 pm class was canceled, so I could go back to my room and get my wallet with a lot of time to spare. Or when I had to get some things done on a rainy day, and whenever I needed to go from one building to another, the rain would stop.
However, my favorite part nowadays is that I’ve been kinder to myself, and people have also been kind to me. For that, I have both myself and the universe to thank. Yes, I’ve been tirelessly working on myself, but the universe has also provided many blessings and miracles lately. One of my love languages is words of affirmation, and the fact that I’ve been getting compliments from strangers almost daily makes me smile. The thing is that like calls to like, so if you radiate kindness, that’s what you receive in return. For that reason, I’ve been extra nice to people, helping them when they need it, giving them advice, or just being there for them. Whoever they are. However, I do that after implementing healthy boundaries.
What brightens my days is not getting good grades or eating delicious food, even though those are great. Instead, it’s things like getting genuine compliments when I’m wearing my favorite outfit; having people smile at me for no reason; getting a thumbs up for my hard work; spending time with people who lift me, and getting advice from friends and family. But then again, who doesn’t love receiving compliments, being recognized, and feeling celebrated? The point is that those things should come from within first.
The other day, I was walking back to my dorm, and a little blonde blue-eyed girl held the door for me. She was maybe three or four years old, and she said: “You can go. I got you.” When I thanked her, my heart felt so full— I was proud of her parents for educating her well. That scene warmed my heart up for the rest of the day. That’s why I think that kindness is a virtue everyone should have.
Kindness can be seen as social support even if you only interact with some people once or twice. The fact of feeling loved and like someone’s got your back that changes things. It can come as compliments, advice, considerate actions, actively listening to others, and/or being there for people. Since kindness comes from within, I believe that daily practicing self-love and self-care is a good start. Why? Well, we are all amazing, and we deserve to be loved and respected, so why not do it yourself? By doing that, you indirectly show others how to do it for you, too. And that knowledge can change things.