Be Kinder

I went to Burning Man. This post isn’t about naked Thursday or watching endless sunrises (unfortunately). It’s about a very simple lesson learned. Burning Man is this magical made up city created by you and me with hundreds of art installations, hundreds of camps offering pancakes and hotdogs and bloody mary’s, 70,000 people, lots of dust, and even more love. There are no labels, no judgement, no internet, no money, no worries at all—I had no clue what anyone did for work and really didn’t care! When you strip down people’s egos, pride, and these external factors, you really get down to the core of being human. 

One day at Burning Man I was sitting in a circle with some new friends and we went around saying what we’ve learned from being there. We all had a few solid lessons learned but the one thing every single person said was “be kinder.” Burning Man is a gifting culture where you offer something and you’re able to run around to every camp and enjoy what they offer (Thank you camp Sparkle Oasis for my daily lemonade when I was dying of heatstroke). As opposed to a bar in normal society (NYC for me) at a bar in Burning Man you talk to everyone and it doesn’t feel awkward or weird. Okay, I understand that when you’re out and about at home you typically are catching up with friends and don’t want to talk to every single person in the bar. But it was such a nice reminder to just say hello and how are you. After Burning Man I went to Santa Cruz for a week. One day I was walking to coffee and said good morning to every single person I passed. That is something I really wouldn't have done prior and it was so refreshing. Everyone smiled and said it right back! 

In this crazy world where people are running from meeting to meeting, sprinting to make spin class, and stressed when you just missed the subway train, it’s a good reminder to slow down and be kinder to both the people around you and yourself. Slow down and take a breath. Stop to help someone. Say hi and how are you to the barista before you order your daily coffee. And treat yourself well. Looking in the mirror maybe twice to apply lipstick was unreal. No one cares as much we think they do. Love yourself first, then everything falls into place.