Because YOU Are

"Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are." - Roy Bennett

It's taken me a whole lot of years (and a whole lot of tears) to figure out the simple truth that I have no control over what other people do, how other people behave, or how other people choose to show up in the world.

It's also taken me years to realize that there is only one thing that I do have control over...me.

It is so empowering to realize that in any moment of any day I get to choose how I want to be in the world. I get to choose politeness and kindness not because other people do but because I do. What a relief it is to release the burden of other people's actions and focus instead on your own!

So why not choose to be the person who says 'please' and 'thank you' - the person who gives compliments and who sees the best in people - the person who shows up fully for friends and family just as much as strangers or new acquaintances - the person who asks 'how are you' and 'what can I do to help' - the person who has the shoulder to cry on and the laugh to lighten the mood.

We can be all of these things if we choose.

So perhaps today is the day you choose.

Choose politeness.

Choose kindness.

Choose to be nice, not because other people are...but because YOU ARE.