By Juliana Di Leonardo
Recently, I experienced an interaction that surprised me. I was on my way home, tired and ready to unwind from my long day of work but before doing so, I decided to stop at a convenience store to get a hydrating beverage. As I entered the store, I went to the small refrigerator section and began my quest to find a drink that would satisfy my thirst. As there weren’t many to choose from, I took my time. After deciding on the best option available, I walked to the counter and placed my items in front of the cashier and awaited the calculation of my chosen beverages. As I was a bit lost in my own world, I was startled by a question from the gentleman ringing me up. He asked, “Why are you not rushing?!”, and with my confused look, he repeated himself. He continued with, “Everyone who comes in here is rushing. Rushing to work, home, everywhere. Why are you not rushing?!”. Surprised by his questioning, I didn’t know what to say, but he again continued with “It’s nice, I appreciate it.” and followed it with a “Good night”. His observation was correct, I was not rushing, and I didn’t even realize it.
As I reflected upon his question, and my obvious lack of haste, I remembered that I made the resolution to make more of an effort to extend kindness toward the people around me which requires me to slow down and be present. This specific commitment is mostly intended for strangers, people I don’t know, because holding a door, sharing a smile, or complimenting someone can make a big difference in someone’s day. Personally, when I experience special moments or kind exchanges with individuals, it brightens my day, so why not do it for someone else?
As we hurry from place to place, we miss out on so many connections because it has been widely accepted that we are expected to hustle through life to maintain productivity, but this world we created can be a tough environment to exist in. We now exercise closing doors, both figuratively and literally, on potential acquaintances, friends and elevating conversations that might change the trajectory of our lives which is why it’s helpful to have community members lifting each other up rather than tearing one another down.
For this week’s Anuvrat, I encourage you to slow down and allow yourself to become more aware of your surroundings. By taking time to witness, observe and analyze the world around you, you might find yourself feeling more joyful along with uplifting the atmosphere that encompasses you. It is with small acts of kindness that we can melt the cold hardened hearts that have given up on altruism causing a ripple effect that can lead to a more positive world filled with compassion for others.
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Juliana Di Leonardo is the Vice President of Humane Long Island. She is a yoga and ballroom dance instructor, model, and artist. Her advocacy for animals exploited by the fashion industry was credited in the 2021 documentary “The Face of Fashion is Fear” and recognized by PETA with a Hero for Coyotes award. (Image provided by author)
