I’m not sorry to see September in the rear-view mirror. It was a rough month thanks to two (now former) clients. My left eye twitched constantly, my “stress back pain” reared its ugly head, and I lost sleep.
When times like this hit me, I remind myself that people have often been incredibly kind to me and my family over the years. I bet it’s the same for you.
While chopping vegetables in my kitchen recently, I smiled in gratitude about the beautiful island under the cutting board that a friend gave us years ago. With its stainless-steel top, wheels for mobility, and ample storage, it’s truly been the hub of our home. The island is great for food prep, baking, stacking dishes, folding laundry, wrapping presents, and a host of other tasks.
As I look at pictures of our boys when they were babies or toddlers, I reminisce about the friends who passed along their maternity clothes to me. Like many new parents, my husband John and I didn’t have much money 25 years ago. My girlfriends had me covered – literally! I remember feeling so stylish and cute wearing the outfits they gave me.
And oh, the baby gadgets. Even before my shower, friends gave us a pack n’ play, baby swing, high chair, and countless toys. With my mom buying furniture and a tote full of clothes for the nursery once she knew I was pregnant (it had been decades since a baby was in the family … she was a bit excited …) we were set.
Whenever I do a deep clean in our house every January, I’m grateful to a nice lady who worked for our friend Gary. Gary owned the building where Noblesville’s Center Stage Guitars sits today. About 20 years ago it housed a vacuum cleaner store. When the building changed tenants, the lady was cleaning it out. She told my husband John that he could pick out a vacuum. Apparently, someone left quite a few behind when they vacated the building.
When John walked through our back door with this heavy grey vacuum and multiple attachments, I initially resisted. We already had a vacuum.
However, once he told me that this was a Kirby … designed to last decades and valued at $1,000 at the time … my attitude changed. The vacuum completely transformed how I do my deep cleaning and made my life easier. [Editor’s note: Amy’s not kidding. They’re incredible machines, especially when you find one for free!]
Our friends taught me a lot, and now I try to give items to people who need them whenever possible. And the more the “meanies” got to me last month, the more I worked to show appreciation to some of the wonderful people in my life. I was determined to not be grumpy and to pass along kindness and goodness, despite how I was being treated.
When the meanies get you, let yourself feel the pain, be kind to yourself, pray, and do all you can to heal. As you go along, fight back with kindness. Let the meanies go on their way, wish them well, and focus on the good people and deeds that God has blessed you with in life. Your heart will grow light, and you’ll lift your spirit.
Amy Shankland is a writer and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John, two sons, two dogs, and a cat. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.