This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
Years ago, I had an atypical level of friendliness for someone from New England.
I would say “hi” to everyone, compliment strangers on their outfits, ask about their day, and so on. It wasn’t performative. I really felt like everyone had an interesting story.
But somewhere between Trump v1 and covid, that just completely disappeared on me.
A less kind world
I watched the world become more mean and selfish and unkind. It had always been that way, but it was more obvious to cishet white guy me than it had been previously.
It turned me bitter.
I’ve had “Be a force of kindness” on my yearly goals every year for three years. And every year, I fail.
Fascism broke me, and I hate that.
Extreme friendliness
Yesterday, I found myself being extra friendly even when the guy behind the deli counter at the market was standoffish at the start.
He opened up eventually.
I told a woman I loved her anchor-pattern dress (because I love anchors and really did!), and found out she was headed to a wedding on a boat that afternoon, and was there to pick up a cake!
I’ve gotten so jaded and angry (because there’s a lot to be angry at) that I’d kind of forgotten how to have real, genuine joy.
It was a good reminder that I need to hold on to that, because fascism hates joy and spreading it is anti-fasc.
Acknowledge the bad shit
To be clear, I don’t mean “deny reality.” Shit sucks right now. Things are very bad. It’s important to acknowledge the bad shit if you want to fix it.
But that doesn’t have to be the only thing in your life, either.
You might already be there. But seeing glimpses of another way—of my past self—was an important learning moment/reminder for me.
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This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things