I am my response

blurry selfie for my dinner date with Taylor to celebrate the 23rd yesterday 

"I am my response to my child’s mismatched outfit and the crumpled report card at the bottom of her backpack.

I am my response to my spouse who returned from the store without toilet paper but remembered the tailgate snacks. 

I am my response to my anxious parent who repeats the same worries and insists on giving me coupons I do not need. 

I am my response to my co-worker with sad eyes and frequent absences. 

I am my response to my 15-minutes-late hairdresser with a sick child. 

I am my response to my neighbor with heart-heavy problems and little family support. 

I am my response to the irate driver who cut me off and made an obscene gesture in front of my children. 

I am my response to the waitress who got my order wrong. 

I am my response to myself when I forgot the one thing I most needed to do today. 

I am my response to spilled coffee, rain-soaked shoes, and middle-of-the-night throw ups. 

My responses are not perfect … they are not always ideal … I am human after all. 

But if I strive to offer responses underlined with  

grace,

understanding, 

kindness,

empathy, 

and care,

That is something. 

That is something. 

Because my responses are more than just words. 

They represent 

who I am, 

who I want to be, 

and how I will someday be remembered.

Today I will not respond perfectly. I know. 

But if strive to communicate with hints of kindness and traces of love, 

That will be something 

That will be something

That could mean more than words." 

- Rachel Macy Stafford 2014