I feel like I’ve written about kindness a few times before, but it’s a theme that keeps showing up in my life, and I felt called to talk about it again this week after a couple of very different experiences.
It started when we received a string of three pretty mean emails in a row from a customer. She was unhappy with our website, said she would have given up on us entirely if she didn’t like our candles so much, and even questioned if we were truly following our mission. The emails were harsh, and honestly, they stung.
I decided to write back. I gently explained that we’re a very small team and we all wear many hats. It’s usually just Nic and me managing the website on top of everything else involved in running our businesses. I told her that while we always welcome feedback, her words felt more discouraging than constructive. She actually wrote back and apologized, explaining she’d had a really bad day at work. I understood, but it reinforced a belief I hold so strongly: a bad day is never an excuse to be unkind.
Then, just a day later, I had the complete opposite experience. I was working the register in our store yesterday, and a sweet older gentleman came up to the counter. He didn't just buy a candle; he stopped to tell me how much he appreciated our philanthropic work and all the donations we make as a company. He said, "I know you don't have to do it, but I'm so glad you do."
Wow. His simple words of gratitude completely made my day, and I made sure to tell him just how much his kindness meant to me.
These two moments, back-to-back, showed such a stark contrast. One interaction left me feeling deflated, and the other lifted my spirits in a way I can’t quite describe. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact our words have on one another. We truly never know what someone is going through.
We all have bad days and tough moments. Let’s make an effort not to take them out on others.
Sending you all love and wishing you a week filled with a little extra kindness.
💛 Christiana
