Behind closed doors.

“We need never be ashamed of our tears.”

Charles Dickens

Mental health is hard. It is sneaky and it is consuming. And sometimes it is tragic. You do not always know when people are suffering. You may not have any idea. Because to truly know would be to be in a persons mind. In their heart. Behind their closed door.

Hopefully. You can make a different in the lives of your crew. Your people. Your inner circle. You can pay attention and see when someone is having a hard time and offer them a hand or a shoulder. We see the people close to us. We pay attention to the people close to us. Hopefully.

But we don’t always pay attention to the people that enter our lives every day. Sometimes only for a split second. Sometimes for 50 minutes at a time. Sometimes only once. Sometimes 5 times a week. These are the people we see but do not know. These are the people that sneak by us. Living their life while we live ours.

So think about this. Next time offer them a brighter smile. Ask them more questions about themselves. Notice them. See them. Pay more attention.

And think of this the next time you take your bad day out on some poor cashier.  Or server.  Think about this the next time you ignore someone who is trying to offer you a friendly smile or trying to get to know you.  Think about this too.  And don’t stop thinking about this.  

Be quick with a compliment.  Don’t just think that someone has beautiful eyes or a nice smile.  Tell them.  Use your voice.  Have you ever had a stranger come up to you and pay you an unexpected compliment?  I have.  It can make your day.  It can turn around a bad day.  It can make a difference.  It DOES make a difference. So use your voice.  And use it for good.  Use it to make a difference in someone’s day.  Someone’s life.  

You never know what is going on in someones mind. In their home. In their heart. Behind their door.

Think about this. Be thoughtful. Be generous. Open your door.

Rest In Peace GT. You are so very very missed.