Live Metanoia

Well this past couple of weeks has been one for the books let me tell you. In case no one told you, or you haven’t scrolled through TikTok, a polar storm hit the southern states two weekends ago that knocked out the power many parts in Texas. There was snow, ice, frozen sidewalks, blackouts, and bursting pipes. 

People were sleeping in their cars to keep warm or accidentally starting fires with their portable heaters to close to things that go up in flames. People were throwing snowballs and slipping on the ice. There were also people freezing to death. And no water for whole towns because the city cut the water off due to the treatment plants pipes freezing over. I was under a boil water notice for where I live for a week I believe. 

During this freak snow storm fiasco, I was called into work for emergency response. Long days and long nights of 12 hour on and off shifts where I couldn’t leave my job. Me and my coworkers got realllll close. I’m surprised there weren’t any casualties. Never the less, we mostly got along and had a good time. Not to mention the pay shouldn’t be to bad.

I learned more about people due to this weather, and the tenacity of Texans. I mean I have always known our fellow man in the state of Texas is ready and willing to put aside their differences in times of need due to past experiences with hurricanes, but it does pleasantly surprise me when people show their humanity. Other states that suffered from the winter storm showed love to their fellow man as well and it totally warmed my heart. When the power shut off, neighbors with generators told their fellow neighbors to come sleep on their floors, providing warmth in below freezing temps. When the water was shut off, people told their communities they could take water from their pools to flush toilets or donated their extra cases of bottle water to others who didn’t have any. Burst pipes? Barrow my shop vac. People were sharing food and drinks and towels. People were selflessly helping another regardless of their political views or skin color. Now that’s humanity. Humans helping humans. 

This is the type of humanity I like to see. This is what should be celebrated but is never shown in the news. Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the media and government is so busy pushing division down Americans throats that we tend to forget that we have neighbors who are just as human as we are. Neighbors who have children they have to feed and bills they have to pay. Neighbors who sometimes wave at you as you pass or are too busy or stressed to wave back when you do so. Everyone is trying their hardest. Having a little more patience with others, some understanding, is okay. Remembering that it’s easier to pick out and dwell on the bad and negative in the world, and we have to strive to look for the good, is so important. 

I was at the dentist today (Hey no cavities!) and I guess every mother in the area scheduled their children’s appointments today as well because the waiting room was full with little minions running around. There was yelling, screaming, laughing, and one little boy was literally running himself into a wall to bounce off it. At first I was annoyed, like moms, control your heathens. Then I really looked at the mothers. Some looked tired or stressed. Some were just sitting there, looking off into oblivion. One mom came in with five kids. FIVE. By herself. All of the kids had appointments because she wanted to knock them out at the same time. 

So, I thought about it. It must be exhausting. Working or staying at home with multiple children and during the pandemic, trying to juggle school and extracurricular activities. Not to mention any moms out their doing it on their own without a partner. CRAZY. And I know they do it without complaint. They do it out of sheer will and love for their children. I can barely manage my two dogs. I commend any mother out there because wow. So instead of mean mugging the mothers and the one father who was in the waiting room and glaring at the offspring, I smiled at a little girl with the biggest bow in her hair I’ve ever seen and complemented a mom on her neon colored woven hand bag and then I minded my own freaking business. 

Is that self-improvement I see? Hey, I’ll take whatever I can get. 

On another note, my brother and sister in law along with my youngest nephew visited me earlier this week. I was super happy seeing them. I live farther away from my family and friends so it’s harder for me to get to see them and coordinate plans so I tend to feel homesick often. So many of my extended family has passed away over the years or are no longer in contact with my immediate family. I struggle sometimes with the feeling of loneliness. I moved away for work a couple of years ago, but my mother, father, and brother’s family are able to see each other so that’s good. My work schedule doesn’t really help either with me working the weekends when everyone else if off and working nights. Anytime I see them I soak in as much time as I can get. Sometimes my face might not show it well due to me being exhausted from switching my sleep schedule, but I really do love spending time with people I love.  

Family, friends, community. This is humanity. 

Lastly, I have some exciting news. I applied for an ambassador/ brand rep position with a Faith based clothing brand called Elevated Faith and I got it! They have soft, cute clothes with styles ranging from shirts to sweatshirts to hoodies or jackets. They spread a positive, Godly message reminding us to keep our heads up and spread joy in times of darkness. They not only carry cute clothes, but jewelry and stickers as well. Please go check them out! You can click the link above that’s my referral link and I also have a coupon code, KKaycee1520 you can use to get 15% off your purchase if that’s your thing.

And maybe next time you see your neighbor, send them a little wave.

My journey continues,

Kaycee