Soul Snacks 👩‍🎓

3 minute read

Dear Snackers,

It’s my high school reunion this weekend; twenty-five years, but who’s counting? I’ve had it on the books for a while and when I say, “I wouldn’t miss it,” I mean that. I loved high school and, by the time I graduated, I feel confident saying I knew at least something about every one of my classmates. I had my group of friends, but I was involved in so many areas of student life, that I’d become a little friendly with almost everyone. It helps that I also went to a boarding school where we spent a shitload more time with our classmates than at a regular high school. Weirdly, until yesterday, I hadn’t started to think about all the people I may see at my reunion, which is in part because life is busy, but also because I have a three friends I am staying in a house with, and I’ve mostly been focused on our plans…and then it hit me…there might actually be some people showing up to this reunion that have not been in contact with anyone from our class in years…and then I started to think, wow, people who still come to reunion without a “buddy” are so brave…and then I started to think, wow, maybe some of those people had to show up for a lot of things in life of their own…and then I started to think, wow, some people may not have loved high school as much as I did…and then I started to think, wow, I’ve been so lucky not to worry about whether or not I’ll have a buddy.

Sometimes I forget to remember my childhood lessons, if that makes any sense? It’s not that I forget them per say, it just hits you differently when think about them as a grownup. One of the most important foundations of my upbringing was to be kind to everyone. My parents drilled that into my brother and me. It wasn’t just about not being a jerk; it was about being actively kind. For example, going out of your way to be nice to a kid who seems like they need it, and treating others with respect and dignity, no matter their place in the social stratosphere at school. It was about standing up for someone who was getting picked on and doing the right thing, even if it meant going against your group. I find myself echoing these lessons to my kids pretty much weekly, and each of my kids fall into different pockets of the social stratosphere, but the lesson is the same for all of them. When you take it upon yourself to be actively kind to someone, you have the opportunity to change their day for the better, and that is so powerful and cool.

I am not perfect and there have been times I’m sure I’ve not always been kind, but I do regularly remind myself to keep kindness at the forefront of my intentions, and parenting forces you to reflect life’s most important foundations. So, what the fuck does this have to do with my reunion? Nothing, I suppose, except that it got me thinking that people’s high school hearts and their grownup hearts are still the same heart, and it’s not just kids that need kindness, it’s adults too. Thinking about the people I may see  this weekend reminded me to be cognizant of everyone in the room and to actively take time to engage with someone who looks like they might need a buddy, just like I hope my kids would do. Being kind really is the coolest thing anyone can do. 

-Caitlin

• DRINK: Cure’s new raspberry flavored electrolyte is out. It’s excellent, I highly recommend. Stay hydrated!!!