With the recent passing of our legend and hero Chadwick Boseman, social media was stormed with tweets and quotes about how important it is to be kind because you never know what people are going through. Before Chadwick’s passing, pictures and videos of him had surfaced on the internet in which people felt the need to make comments about his weight and his appearance not knowing that he’d been through several chemotherapy treatments and surgeries, and was ultimately fighting to stay alive. Even a cast member of his most recent movie shared how he initially judged Chadwick for having what he described as ‘people who are fawning over him’ while on set. He felt Chadwick’s fame went to his head when he was just doing what he needed to stay comfortable. It really was a wake up call for a lot of people about how significant your words can be and how people really are fighting silent battles on a daily basis. What was amazing to me though – and not in a good way, was the fact that my timeline went from “spread positivity” this and “be kind” that, back to its negative and judgmental ways within about two days.
For some people, their natural instinct is to judge, but how can we get to a place where we exemplify nothing but kindness? The reality is, it is easier to be kind than it is to be mean. It is also easier to mind your business than to mind someone else’s. People have the right to keep their lives private and that is something we have to respect. Just because someone isn’t publicly celebrating or complaining, does not mean those things are not happening. Growing up, we all learned the golden rule – “Treat others the way you want to be treated.’’ When you hear that phrase, it can seem elementary because we learned about it so long ago but the reality is, most adults need to hear that rule more than children do. We expect others to treat us with respect and kindness, and it is imperative that we do the same. You never know how your words and actions can affect the people around you. Even through a screen, words can hurt and be tough to bare when you’re facing so many other challenges.
As a community, it is our job to uplift and support others. A lot of people rely on their communities for encouragement and we have to be the ones to provide that. Another saying ingrained into our heads as children was, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” In this day and age, people place more value on their opinions than is really necessary. When you look at social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram accounts like “The Shaderoom,” you see the comments are filled with negativity and opinions on things that have absolutely nothing to do with them. If we are part of communities where people ask for opinions or constructive criticism, let it be that – constructive. On top of that, people can tell the difference between when someone is being genuine and when they are showing fake love. Don’t be that person. I know times are progressing, but we must not forget the many gems we learned at a young age encouraging us to be the best person we could be.
