What I learned this week

After work, I stopped for a quick drink at the bar where my friend was dj-ing. As I was walking towards the tram stop afterwards, a group of boys, probably in their teens weere catcalling girls as they went by, sexual innuendos and fat-shaming slurs depending on the appearance of each girl. That got me thinking. What a world! Fat-shaming, racism (I've been a victim of both), sexism(that one too) and terrorism. Last week Paris was attacked (so was Lebanon and Africa but who's counting when it's not the western civilization, right?). Social media blew up from all the people who came together to "pray for Paris", which honestly I found ridiculous- again who's praying for Lebanon and Africa- I had even prepared a post about it.
But then another thought entered my mind. A stranger on the street complimented my hair. Not my ass, or my tits. Hair might still be a part of my outside appearance but still, I doubt a passerby could have time to notice my wise spirit or my bright personality. And as stupid and superficial as it sounds, you know, I don't wake up like this dude, I take pride in my hair and, it was just a nice thing to say. It wasn't deep nor profound, but it was nice to hear. I realised how much we need more of that, more nice, more kind. Which brings me to last night. The night before I noticed my cat, Edgar, had not touched his food, I also thought he might have a fever. Yesterday, I had to go to work but I knew he wasn't well. It's true what they say, having pets is like having a child, it's a lot of responsibility and you worry. My stomach was in a knot the whole day. I knew I had to work till 21.00 which was a long time for him to wait and it would be hard to get a vet at that time. My friend who usually texts and then throws his phone cross-country, actually texted me right away with numbers to the best vets in the area. I called the first one from work and explained the situation. She told me that although she closes earlier she would wait for me until I got off work to take him. My boyfriend who was super supportive had a class, so he was trying to find someone else that was able to take me but it would be hard to manage time-wise. By this point my nerves were shot and I didn't know what to do. I called my manager and asked her if there was anything we could do. A while later she called me from her car and said she would be there in 10min. She had gone out of her way to come in to work two hours earlier, even though she wasn't supposed to be working(it's just the two of us) and after I had taken him to the vet she called to make sure everything was okay. My boyfriend also got one of his friends to pick me up and take me and the cat. The vet was super nice and did a thorough exam. He was running a temperature of 40.4 and just like in humans let's say that ain't good. She gave him antibiotics and by the time we were home he was already a little better. The kindness and support of the people around me probably saved my cat, who's only a baby.
Yesterday was stressful, honestly, it felt like I had to do so many grown-up things I had never had to do before. But then today something else happened. As I was closing the shop, my employer called and told me to take some money from the till. When I asked why, he said that we had done well today, that I had done a terrific job and to buy myself a drink on him tonight.
I don't know why people being nice, people being supportive or appreciative shocks us so much but the togetherness, the love, the humanity, that's what this world needs right now. So I won't write about how terrible those boys on the street were and I won't post that post about terrorism because I refuse to spread the ugliness and hate. I'd rather tell you about how much I love and appreciate the little and big things the people around me did for me this week and challenge you to think about any little kind thing someone did or said to you. You might be surprised.
That to me is humanity and that to me is what will save this world.