Love is our Greatest Tool (Even at the Pool)
Valentine’s Day was a few weeks ago. The day we collectively pause to celebrate love. Flowers are delivered. Cards are written. Messages are sent reminding people that they matter. And while I’ve always appreciated the intentionality of that day, I found myself thinking… what if we didn’t limit that kind of love and kindness to just one date on the calendar? What if we chose to live that way more often? What if we made people feel seen, appreciated, and valued in the ordinary, unexpected moments of everyday life?
I was recently traveling and had carved out some quiet time to sit by the pool. It was one of those rare moments where there was nowhere to be and nothing that needed my attention. I was simply sitting still, observing, letting my mind rest. And then I noticed an older gentleman walking by. He was holding this enormous bouquet of flowers. They were impossible to miss. Bright, full, and clearly chosen with care. He wasn’t rushing or trying to hide them. He walked calmly, confidently, and directly toward a woman sitting nearby.
It was his wife. His bride of over 50 years.
When she saw those flowers, her entire face lit up. It wasn’t a polite smile or a quiet thank you. She beamed in a way that you could feel from across the pool deck. It was the kind of smile that only comes from feeling deeply loved and deeply known. And what was even more beautiful was what happened next. Everyone around them noticed. Strangers smiled. A few girls sitting nearby let out a delighted, “That is SO cute!” Others put their hands over their hearts. A couple of people got teary-eyed. No one knew them personally, but it didn’t matter. Being witness to that kind of love affected all of us.
It reminded us of something we all crave but don’t always articulate. To be seen. To be chosen. To know that after all this time, we still matter to someone.
That moment didn’t just impact her. It impacted everyone who saw it. It shifted the energy of the entire space. It reminded us that kindness and love are not small things. They are powerful things. They ripple outward in ways we don’t always realize.
At 46 years old, I don’t remember a time in my life when kindness has felt more important than it does right now. I’ve spent my life in Minnesota, a place often referred to as the land of “Minnesota Nice.” It’s a place where conversations with strangers happen naturally, where people hold doors open for each other, and where kindness has always been woven into the fabric of daily life. It’s not unusual to meet someone in a simple, ordinary moment and leave feeling more connected than you expected.
And that’s the thing about kindness. It doesn’t require perfection. It doesn’t require grand gestures. It simply requires intention. It requires us to remember that every person we encounter is carrying something we cannot see. Every person has a story. Every person has moments where they wonder if they matter.
Kindness answers that question.
I remember being told as a child, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” At the time, it sounded like something adults said to keep the peace. But now I understand it differently. Not as encouragement to stay silent, but as encouragement to be thoughtful, to listen more deeply, and to seek understanding instead of rushing to judgment. Not because we will always agree with each other, but because choosing kindness creates space for connection.
That man with the flowers didn’t give them because he was told to. He gave them because he wanted his wife to know that she still mattered, that she was still loved, and that she was still seen. In doing so, he reminded everyone around him of what is possible when we choose to show up for each other. And over 50 years strong, they were living, breathing, loving proof!
Imagine what would change if we lived that way more often. If we smiled more freely. If we told people we appreciated them. If we took a moment to acknowledge the people around us, not because we had to, but because we wanted to.
Kindness has a way of multiplying. When you offer it, it doesn’t diminish you. It expands you. It strengthens connection. It reminds people they are not alone.
I truly believe kindness will never fail us. It may not fix everything instantly, but it always creates a moment of movement. It always creates possibility.
Valentine’s Day may come once a year, but the opportunity to show kindness is available every single day. We don’t need a holiday to remind someone they matter. We simply need the willingness to show up and let them know. Because at the end of the day, that’s what we’re all hoping for. To know that we matter. To know that someone sees us. To know that we’re not alone. And when we choose kindness, we make that possible for others and for ourselves.
Together, we are always better. Go out and have yourself a day of love!
I love you all!
xxoo,
Krista
I’m Krista Ryan
My job is to help you learn a little, laugh a lot, and get clear on action steps for your success.
It may have taken a life changing event to shake me awake and decide I no longer wanted to live a comfortable life… I wanted to embrace the discomfort and live a life of courage and intention.
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