Because kindness always saves the day!
AFAMOUS saying goes along the lines of “The greatest of smiles hide the deepest of secrets, the prettiest eyes have cried the most tears, and the kindest of hearts have felt the most pain.” Last week, the world was shaken and witnessed two celebrity suicides, both of which were said to result from depression. The deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade who built her own namesake brand, and celebrity chef and respected food guru Anthony Bourdain shocked many, to say the very least. Not only did it shine a much needed light on depression, and the most extreme result it can yield, it reminded us all how taboo mental illness still is – that in fact, it is shrugged off by many, when reality is, it needs the attention and treatment course other ailments and diseases require and demand. It can affect those who we would at least expect it to. It was a muchneeded wake-up call to everyone to check up on, and spend quality time with loved ones. An instance that reminds us yet again that kindness is capable of moving mountains, and even a small amount of empathy goes a long way.
It is truly a shame that in this very day and age, when we pride ourselves to be much more of broad and open-minded people, seeking the proper help to address mental illness is still not the norm. The stigma placed upon people who suffer from these unfortunate conditions is not only condescending and heartbreaking, but an unjust way to treat a patient going through the unfortunate situation. Blinding ourselves to this reality does nothing in eradicating the negative perception some people may have on those who suffer from mental illness. We must always keep in mind that just like any other sickness, it is a choice that no one makes – no one wakes up one day wanting to be a victim of depression – and thus merits the same type of treatment and protocol for cure that other medical conditions do.
Showing someone that you care could even extend as far as being a cure, or at the very least, prevent a person from going over the edge. A gesture as small as listening to someone, and giving them the opportunity to talk about their problems, and vent about their hardships, sans judgment and bias, could be a life-saver in the grander scheme of things. In a world that can be so cruel and imposes so much pressure on individuals – one that places so much significance on the opinions of others as an indicator of success -- recognizing small steps and worthwhile efforts is so much more refreshing. It gives weight on matters that may otherwise seem menial, but that in fact do make a difference, and paves the way to shining light on things that keep sanity amidst stress and pandemonium that is otherwise easily neglected.
The deaths of Spade and Bourdain are reminders to us all of how subjective success truly is – while the rest of the world looked up to both with such awe and admiration, and as we beamed upon their success seeing both as icons in their respective industries, little did we know they would take their lives, and be gone so soon – just when we thought they were at the peak of their careers. And while we will never know what really broke the camels back in each instance, what we can deduce from both situations is that we can never really assume that success in the eyes of others automatically translates to happiness and contentment in the lives of those being patronized. That indeed, every person has his/her own view on what truly brings about true happiness, and defines contentment in life. As mere spectators, the best we can do is to respect the way in which one chooses to make the most out of their every day.
Undoubtedly, each person has his/her own life to live, and individual story to tell. Each person has the capacity, ability, and opportunity to shape his/her own life. The manner in which one chooses to do so, however, is an individual’s preference, and we must never fail to acknowledge that indeed, there are “different strokes for different folks.” The death of both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain can somewhat be seen as a showcase once again that one never really has it all – proof that while society is so quick to identify fame and fortune as indicators of success, possessing either, or even both (in their cases) does not, and will not ever directly transform to happiness ad contentment. That in fact, the smallest, silliest, everyday mundane laugh abouts are perhaps the ones responsible for taking up the biggest spaces and chunks in our hearts. An everyday reminder to us all that though material objects can suit our fancy, and even if as consumers we have the tendency to place importance on them at times, we must always choose to prioritize the priceless. Cliché, but true: the best things in life are free.
The way we decide to live our lives is our business, in the same way that we must be accountable for the decisions that govern our daily life. Of equal importance, is how we treat those around us – with respect, dignity, and care. Because kindness does go a long way. And really, it is a gift that costs us nothing, but that could potentially mean everything to someone else. Be kind, and your world will shine!