avatarMichelle Marie Warner

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of showing love and empathy through small acts of kindness, advocating for emotional openness and the positive impact it can have on others.

Abstract

The article "Simple Ways to Show Your Love" by Michelle Marie Warner discusses the profound effect that simple acts of kindness, such as offering comfort to a crying child, can have on individuals and relationships. Warner reflects on a personal experience where she comforted a child in distress at her daughter's preschool, despite the lack of empathy shown by the teachers. She argues that expressing love and acknowledging emotions, even in brief interactions, can significantly influence someone's well-being. Warner also touches on the broader implications of emotional suppression, suggesting that adults who stifle children's feelings may have had their own emotions dismissed in the past. The article encourages readers to express their feelings healthily and to be generous with their love, as it can transform lives and heal past traumas.

Opinions

  • Warner believes that adults should not dismiss children's feelings, as it can lead to emotional suppression and a lack of empathy in adulthood.
  • She criticizes the automatic dismissal of emotions by some teachers, indicating a systemic issue in how children's feelings are handled in educational settings.
  • Warner suggests that her presence at the school serves a higher purpose, not only to comfort children but also to teach teachers how to open their hearts and show empathy.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of allowing oneself to feel and express a full range of emotions to maintain an open heart and foster loving connections.
  • She advocates for the use of love in everyday interactions, proposing that even small gestures, like asking a homeless person their name, can have a significant impact.
  • Warner shares her belief in the transformative power of love and empathy, stating that these are essential for personal well-being and societal health.
  • The article conveys a personal mission to spread love and emotional awareness, both through direct actions and by influencing the attitudes of those around her.

Simple Ways to Show Your Love

It only takes a minute to make someone’s day

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.~Leo Buscaglia

We always have a minute to share our love.

It’s easy to show someone you care about them. Most of us know this, but stop ourselves from reaching out.

People try to hide their love away. They come across mean and ungrateful. Maybe they didn’t get a chance to express their feelings when they were young.

It breaks my heart when adults try to stifle children’s feelings, especially sadness and anger. Sometimes we let the baggage of yesterday color our relationships of today. Whatever the reason, the result is cruel dismissal of someone when they’re hurting.

I’ll share what happened this morning to illustrate the simplicity of expressing love.

I dropped off my child at preschool this morning and saw her classmate crying. I approached him with compassion and concern, as many of us would. The teacher told me he doesn’t need help. She said he needs to stop crying. I swiftly protested and leaned in to see what was wrong.

His tooth was hurting. I stayed present and offered him comfort and reassurance. We talked a little about cavities and when he’ll get help with his tooth. I told him I’d send a magic healing bug to help him feel better.

The other children at the table concluded this must be a tooth fairy. I said that yes, they were indeed a special healing tooth fairy. I overheard the teacher telling them they only have 5 minutes to eat. On top of dismissing their feelings, they rushed them. I wrapped up our talk of healing fairies and said my goodbyes.

It wasn’t easy for me to experience a lack of empathy from my daughter’s school teachers. But it took less than 5 minutes to comfort this child. It only took a second to love him. This divinely inspired moment meant a lot to me. Can you imagine what it means for him?

I left school with mixed emotions.

I’m appalled by the teachers’ reactions. Still, I feel like I was in the right place at the right time. I was the one to show empathy instead. I was able to give him what he didn’t get from them. As angry as I was about their dismissal, my heart was there to offer love.

I suspect this particular teacher had her feelings dismissed from a very young age. Her current automatic response suggests she can’t move past her old paradigm.

What if my heart softened to include compassion for her? What if I’m there to remind her what it’s like to show love to someone in pain?

I believe there’s a purpose behind these life situations. It was certainly no accident an empath like me crossed their path. I brought my kid there for a higher lesson. Although I have concerns about how they treat her, I know there’s more to it.

I have a cosmic assignment at her school. Of course, I’m there to comfort and empower young children. I’ve done it for years. But I’m also supposed to teach the teachers how to open up their hearts and love again. I’m there to learn to show empathy toward them as well.

I’ve had many times of frustration about what they do in class. I’ve wanted to pull her from school every few weeks. But as of today, something tells me we need to stay a little longer.

We need healthy ways to express our feelings.

I do my best to help my daughters navigate a wide range of emotions while we’re home. Then, when they go out into the world, they’ll be able to handle when complicated feelings arise. My oldest daughter holds in her tears until she comes home. But at least she’s aware. And I’m available to support her.

I’m a highly emotional being. Sometimes I pick up other people’s feelings. Being an empath can be tricky. But I soon discover which ones are mine. I’m usually able to release feelings without hurting anyone. If someone gets caught in the crossfire of my anger, I make prompt amends.

Humans try to make this complicated. It’s not. When we allow our sad or mad feelings to move through us, we find our joy.

When we express a wide range of emotions, our hearts are wide open to love each other. When someone else acknowledges our feelings, we accept the love given to us.

Final thoughts

Don’t put your love in storage. Use it every day. You could change someone’s entire outlook with a hug. You might even save them from gravely hurting themselves one day. Sharing love is vital to our well-being. We can’t go without it. Try a simple act of offering money to a houseless person on the side of the road. Ask them their name. Make them feel less invisible.

When a child cries, they need our comfort and warm-hearted embrace. Don’t hold back from showing children love. They share it with us all the time. We could learn a lot from them when we pay attention.

Why deny them what they need and deserve? As I left the classroom, another little friend said she’d draw me a picture. Then she gave me a tiny sticker. She isn’t afraid to share her love. I kept the sticker in my pocket to remind me of the little things that make a big difference.

Give someone love today. You’ll never run out, and you’ll both feel good.

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Let’s stay in touch. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or my personal blog at gratefulx365.wordpress.com. Email me at [email protected]. Thanks for reading.

Love
Life Lessons
Inspiration
Mindfulness
Learning
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