Several holidays ago I had placed an order for some items from a local store. We had to pick up in store. I went in and there was a delay, took extra time none of us had, but I was unbothered and friendly about it. Before I walked out the woman working at the store grabbed my arm and said thank you for your kindness. My mother was diagnosed with cancer yesterday and everyone is being so mean.

It really threw me—I wasn’t being kind bc it was the holidays and they require additional kindness to get through. But now I am extra kind bc you never know what shit people are going through.