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== What Kindness When You're Exhausted Really Costs == | == What Kindness When You're Exhausted Really Costs == | ||
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- Mrs. Gable’s tears when it stopped dripping. She hugged me like I’d saved her. | - Mrs. Gable’s tears when it stopped dripping. She hugged me like I’d saved her. | ||
- My oldest kid asking, "Dad, can we help Mrs. Gable next time?" | - My oldest kid asking, "Dad, can we help Mrs. Gable next time?" | ||
- That quiet hum of connection when you show up, even when you’re hollow. | - That quiet hum of connection when you [[goodhuman:Small Acts|show up]], even when you’re hollow. | ||
It wasn’t free. I gave up my own rest, my own breath. Some nights, I snapped at the kids over spilled milk because I was running on fumes. I missed my own needs so hard it felt like a physical ache. | It wasn’t free. I gave up my own [[happiness:Learning to Rest|rest]], my own breath. Some nights, I snapped at the kids over spilled milk because I was running on fumes. I missed my own [[goodhuman:Being Good to Yourself|needs]] so hard it felt like a physical ache. | ||
Was it worth it? | Was it worth it? | ||
Yeah. But not because I’m some saint. I did it because I knew what it felt like to need help when you’re drowning. And I knew—deep in my tired bones—that kindness isn’t a luxury. It’s the thing that keeps the light on when the power’s out. | Yeah. But not because I’m some saint. I did it because I knew what it felt like to [[be-vulnerable:The Courage To Be Seen|need help]] when you’re drowning. And I knew—deep in my tired bones—that [[goodhuman:Kindness When You're Tired|kindness]] isn’t a luxury. It’s the thing that keeps the light on when the power’s out. | ||
You just do the next thing. Even when it costs you everything. | You just do the next thing. Even when it costs you everything. | ||
'' | *— Jimmy Hawkins, just a dad figuring it out* | ||
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''Written by'' [[User:Jimmy Hawkins|Jimmy Hawkins]] — 05:22, 02 January 2026 (CST) | |||
[[Category:When You're Running on Empty]] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:26, 7 January 2026
What Kindness When You're Exhausted Really Costs
Got home at 7 PM, my bones aching from rewiring that old house on Elm Street. Kids were at the table, homework scattered like leaves. My wife’s side of the bed felt empty, but I didn’t have time to sit with that. I just wanted to collapse. But then Mrs. Gable from next door knocked, her faucet spraying like a broken firehose. She’s 80, alone since her husband passed.
Look, I’m no expert on this. But I knew what she needed. So I grabbed my tool belt, fixed it while the kids ate cold pizza. Didn’t even think about it. Just did the next thing.
Here’s what it cost me:
- My coffee. I skipped it to sit with the kids after.
- My quiet hour. I didn’t call my buddy for a beer, didn’t even open my book.
- My sleep. I was up at 5 AM fixing a blown fuse at the school.
What I gained?
- Mrs. Gable’s tears when it stopped dripping. She hugged me like I’d saved her.
- My oldest kid asking, "Dad, can we help Mrs. Gable next time?"
- That quiet hum of connection when you show up, even when you’re hollow.
It wasn’t free. I gave up my own rest, my own breath. Some nights, I snapped at the kids over spilled milk because I was running on fumes. I missed my own needs so hard it felt like a physical ache.
Was it worth it?
Yeah. But not because I’m some saint. I did it because I knew what it felt like to need help when you’re drowning. And I knew—deep in my tired bones—that kindness isn’t a luxury. It’s the thing that keeps the light on when the power’s out.
You just do the next thing. Even when it costs you everything.
— Jimmy Hawkins, just a dad figuring it out
Written by Jimmy Hawkins — 05:22, 02 January 2026 (CST)