On a hard day...

I've had a hard day today. A residual feeling of sadness has bled over from yesterday and I feel exhausted in nearly every capacity.

I suppose it's days like today that made me want to document the acts of kindness around me. I know that often I can get so caught up in the larger idea of every day. Work, commitments, household obligations. In focusing so intensely on the greater scale of things, I tend to lose sight of so many wonderful things that receive no recognition.

I put little effort into my appearance today. I threw on jeans and a comfortable tee shirt, slapped a small amount of makeup onto my face, pulled a brush through my hair, and stepped into my favorite black Converse shoes. Definitely not professional dress, but thankfully I work in a casual environment where this is not entirely unheard of.

In feeling so wretched, I have really noticed the kindness of others today. Perhaps their efforts have been heightened as it is clear that I'm upset. Or perhaps it is in feeling so low that the smallest act of kindness seems to be paramount.

Acts of kindness shown to me today include moments that sparked laughter, a comfortable lunch with friends, a simple "I hope your day gets better" from a pure stranger who read it across my face, and tickets for a Bon Iver show tonight.

Giving support to someone who is having a hard day--a very special act of kindness.