The Strength It Takes to Stay Gentle
There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: how kindness can sometimes be mistaken for weakness. And before anyone takes this the wrong way, this isn’t me bragging or trying to paint myself as some perfect person. I just genuinely believe in leaving people better than I found them. Whether it’s through encouragement, showing up when someone needs me, listening, helping, or simply bringing positive energy into a room — that’s always been who I am. Kindness has never felt forced for me. It’s a choice I make every single day. But lately, I’ve noticed something that honestly hurts a little. Some people stop appreciating kindness once they get used to it. What started as generosity slowly becomes expectation. The favor you did out of love becomes something they assume you’ll always do. The support you gave freely becomes something they feel entitled to. And after a while, you start feeling less like a kind person and more like a resource people pull from whenever they need some...