Okay, so today I wanted to try something different, something I’ve been thinking about for a while: “love selfless.” It sounds kinda cheesy, I know, but I was curious to see if I could actually do it, live it out, even just for a day.
I started this morning by, well, just trying to be extra aware of everyone around me. Usually, I’m rushing around, head down, thinking about my own to-do list. But today, I made myself look up. I noticed the cashier at the coffee shop looked tired, so I smiled and actually asked her how her day was going. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a start.
Then, at work, things got a little trickier. My coworker, Sarah, was clearly stressed about a project. My first instinct was to just get my own stuff done, but then I remembered my “love selfless” experiment. So, I stopped what I was doing and offered to help. We spent about an hour going over it together, and even though it put me a little behind on my own work, it felt good to see her relax a bit.
- I helped clear the dinner in time.
- I listened without interrupting.
- I gave up that parking spot to the other person.
It was the small, almost unnoticeable things that I would not always do.
The biggest challenge came later. My friend called, needing to vent about a really tough situation. Honestly, I was tired, and I just wanted to zone out and watch TV. But I pushed that feeling aside and really listened. I didn’t offer advice unless she asked for it, and I just tried to be there for her, completely. It took a couple of hours, and yeah, I was even more tired afterward, but I felt… lighter, somehow.
So, how did my “love selfless” day go? It wasn’t perfect, and I definitely didn’t achieve some kind of enlightened state. But it did make me realize how often I’m focused on my own needs and wants. It was actually pretty amazing how good it felt to shift that focus, even just a little bit. I’m not sure I can do it every day, but it’s something I want to keep practicing. It’s like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try it again. We’ll see.
