Storms

Today I saw a woman walk into the 7-11 where I was, and she was crying. I thought about all the times I had been out in public upset, crying, or just having a bad day and how most of the time, no one cared enough to say a word. Why do people do that? Yes, maybe it's none of our business, maybe you don't want to get involved, but we are all humans. We all have bad days and sometimes it's nice to know you're not alone. There's nothing worse than feeling alone in your misery, feeling like no one cares.

What bothers me the most is when people finally get through the storm, a lot forget what it felt like to be in it still. When you're in a great relationship, you forget how hard it is to be in a bad one, or go through a breakup. When you finally have money, you forget how you had to stretch $10 over 5 days until payday, or how embarrassing it was to ask to borrow money. The list goes on and on........

There's truly nothing that bothers me more than insensitive people. Maybe you would choose to deal with a situation a different way, but that's you, that's how you process. Every person processes differently because every person's storm is different.

For some people, it's more than just a bad day. For some people, it's mental health. Maybe their depressed? Bi Polar? Or something else completely. I feel like people forget what it's like to be in the storm, and judge how others deal with their storm. Shame on you.

For me, I deal with my storms through writing and talking. Lots and lots of talking. I'm lucky and blessed enough to have an amazing circle around me who pick me up when I fall. But sometimes, even they aren't enough. Sometimes I need to go through my storms my own way, alone, on my own time. I don't apologize for how I chose to process and deal with my storms.

Back to the lady at 7-11. I could have walked in, bought my purchase and walked out but I didn't. I stopped and said "I'm sorry you're having a bad moment or even day but I promise it will get better." The look on this ladies face wasn't horrified that I said that, she was grateful. Who knows maybe I even saved a life tonight.

I refuse to be that person who won't stop to ask someone who's crying if they are okay, or judge how others choose to process and deal with their storms. You are entitled to all your feelings, everyone is and no one has the right to tell you to feel any different. You are feeling what you are feeling for a reason and you should never apologize for feeling.

Life can be amazing and wonderful but life changes. No good moment or bad moment last forever. That's life. That's just part of being alive. Good moments turn into hard ones and then turn right around and are good again. The world needs to have a little more compassion towards others and how they choose to deal with their storms.

Don't be afraid to ask someone who is crying if they are okay, or say something positive to bring a smile to their face. Even if they don't show gratitude, I promise it helps. A genuine smile from a stranger can mean the world to someone who's feeling completely alone or hopeless.
-Jamie Lynn