• love stories
  • movement
  • portraits
  • brands
  • family
  • home
  • about
  • journal
  • work with me
  • Menu

jenna dailey photography

Denver based portrait, lifestyle, wedding & elopement photographer.
  • love stories
  • movement
  • portraits
  • brands
  • family
  • home
  • about
  • journal
  • work with me

be kind, always. (please)

November 24, 2015 in personal

Yesterday at work (as most of you know I am currently at lululemon athletica ) I struck up conversation with another guest that was looking at pants. I had all these stories in my head of how it could be - I always prepare myself for worst case scenario so I'm not thrown off and move into reaction, rather than responding. I guess you could say it's my little resilience ritual. I don't want to say that I was surprised when I was met with a pleasant response, because that would give off the idea that I have lost faith in humanity and assume the worst in everyone I meet, which is not the case at all, but I was caught slightly off guard. Anyhoo...

It started as a typical conversation. I asked him what he was looking for, and I helped him track down what he needed. And then we got started talking about hockey, and it turned into what seemed like a 20 minute conversation. Not to take away the importance of the words that were exchanged, but I've already forgotten the specifics of what was said. That's not what I'll remember, it's the feeling I was left with. It's that he made eye contact with me, he listened to what I was saying, he treated me like an equal - he saw me as another human being, not just as the random Asian girl at the yoga pants store who rang him up. I felt respected, I felt valued.

And as he left he said, "Happy Holidays!" which is seemingly insignificant, but put a huge smile on my face and easily was the highlight of my day. He didn't have to say it - we had said our goodbyes and he was nearly out the door, but he did. How just plain kind and lovely.

This got me thinking. How many times have I not seen the person standing in front of me - the barista, the server, the person bagging my groceries, the person sitting next to me at the coffee shop? So many times, unfortunately. We talked about this in yoga teacher training, the fact that we tend to reduce people to these labels that help us to categorize people, to make sense of them. But I've come to realize that in doing so we dehumanize them - we don't see them for who and what they truly are: another human being - with feelings, needs, desires, hopes, dreams, insecurities and so on and so forth. And it's not personal - actually, it's exactly the opposite, it's about as impersonal as it gets. I'm not saying this is necessarily good or bad, it's just something that deserves awareness.

Although I may not always be aware when I'm doing this myself, I certainly can pick up on when it's happening to me. And as anyone who has experienced it knows, it does not feel good. No, not at all. And I don't ever want to be the reason someone's good day turns sour, or questions their own worth, or has a bade taste in their mouth or a pit in their stomach (this is very I am/you are, but that's a whole other topic.) I want to be the person who leaves everyone that walks into my presence feeling a little lighter and happier than when they left.

Of course, this isn't a switch that I can just flip on or off. It's a practice. It's a conscious choice to choose empathy, compassion and above all else kindness - which for me, is not always my gut reaction. It's taking the time to respond rather than react. It's a shift from attitude to gratitude. It's the courageous decision to say, "I see you and I hear you." It's saying hell yes to connection. And these aren't always gut reactions for me, but they're choices that I am wholeheartedly ready, willing and committed to making.

Happy holidays, you guys. Namaste!

Tags: kindness, gratitude, choice
Prev / Next

musings


  • March 2018
    • Mar 26, 2018 permission to slow the fuck down Mar 26, 2018
  • January 2018
    • Jan 22, 2018 retreat yoself Jan 22, 2018
  • December 2017
    • Dec 28, 2017 see ya later 2017 Dec 28, 2017
  • July 2017
    • Jul 20, 2017 tattoos, timing, & trust Jul 20, 2017
    • Jul 19, 2017 quarter-centuries, gratitude switches, & clarity Jul 19, 2017
  • May 2017
    • May 19, 2017 real May 19, 2017
    • May 19, 2017 grounding with soul values May 19, 2017
    • May 9, 2017 building blocks & self-love May 9, 2017
  • April 2017
    • Apr 25, 2017 trust the process Apr 25, 2017
    • Apr 25, 2017 busy part I Apr 25, 2017
  • March 2017
    • Mar 6, 2017 oh, my raging ego Mar 6, 2017
  • February 2017
    • Feb 4, 2017 the art of non-attachment Feb 4, 2017
  • December 2016
    • Dec 22, 2016 new year, same me Dec 22, 2016
  • November 2016
    • Nov 22, 2016 permission to be messy Nov 22, 2016
  • October 2016
    • Oct 4, 2016 the sweet spot Oct 4, 2016
  • September 2016
    • Sep 18, 2016 there's no place like home Sep 18, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 24, 2016 100 things Jul 24, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 24, 2016 why i do what i do Mar 24, 2016
    • Mar 2, 2016 february reflection, march intentions Mar 2, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 27, 2016 lean in and learn to love whatever rises Feb 27, 2016
    • Feb 9, 2016 why i really wanderlust Feb 9, 2016
  • December 2015
    • Dec 1, 2015 the power of saying no Dec 1, 2015
  • November 2015
    • Nov 26, 2015 why i choose to live in possibility Nov 26, 2015
    • Nov 24, 2015 be kind, always. (please) Nov 24, 2015
    • Nov 13, 2015 ego part II Nov 13, 2015
    • Nov 9, 2015 the yoga hustle Nov 9, 2015
    • Nov 4, 2015 real Nov 4, 2015
  • October 2015
    • Oct 30, 2015 aparigraha, among other things Oct 30, 2015
    • Oct 20, 2015 learning to take my yoga off the mat Oct 20, 2015
    • Oct 16, 2015 what is yoga to me, and why do I practice? Oct 16, 2015
    • Oct 7, 2015 courage, my dear heart Oct 7, 2015
  • September 2015
    • Sep 29, 2015 the inbetween, and beyond Sep 29, 2015
  • August 2015
    • Aug 23, 2015 oh, the people you'll meet Aug 23, 2015
    • Aug 15, 2015 why living in a mountain town was my best life choice yet Aug 15, 2015
    • Aug 7, 2015 ego Aug 7, 2015
    • Aug 5, 2015 about that comfort zone Aug 5, 2015
  • July 2015
    • Jul 24, 2015 twenty three Jul 24, 2015
    • Jul 22, 2015 feeling all the feels Jul 22, 2015
    • Jul 22, 2015 the unplug drug Jul 22, 2015
  • June 2015
    • Jun 6, 2015 what aspen has taught me about loving my life Jun 6, 2015
    • Jun 6, 2015 always coming back home to you Jun 6, 2015
  • February 2015
    • Feb 27, 2015 practice Feb 27, 2015
    • Feb 23, 2015 intent Feb 23, 2015
    • Feb 4, 2015 fearless Feb 4, 2015
    • Feb 4, 2015 love love Feb 4, 2015
  • January 2015
    • Jan 17, 2015 just let go Jan 17, 2015
    • Jan 16, 2015 new perspective Jan 16, 2015
    • Jan 11, 2015 come alive Jan 11, 2015
    • Jan 6, 2015 humility Jan 6, 2015
    • Jan 2, 2015 a year in reflection: 2014 Jan 2, 2015
  • November 2014
    • Nov 9, 2014 that full moon though Nov 9, 2014
  • October 2014
    • Oct 19, 2014 anywhere but here Oct 19, 2014
    • Oct 6, 2014 self love Oct 6, 2014
  • September 2014
    • Sep 26, 2014 get lost Sep 26, 2014
    • Sep 24, 2014 choose to see the good stuff Sep 24, 2014
    • Sep 17, 2014 week 1 Sep 17, 2014
    • Sep 3, 2014 c u l8r Sep 3, 2014
  • August 2014
    • Aug 11, 2014 #goalcrush Aug 11, 2014
    • Aug 3, 2014 take a f*cking chance Aug 3, 2014
  • July 2014
    • Jul 31, 2014 no regrets Jul 31, 2014
    • Jul 20, 2014 cheers to 22 years Jul 20, 2014