We are all mourning for the shooting that took place yesterday in California.

Amid the media coverage yesterday, I just kept asking myself why is this happening here?  Is it gun laws?  Something about our culture?  Something about our mental health?

I do know one thing:  kindness and love is the best way to help others.

It has been the most noticeable change in our lives since we moved to Michigan.  I’ve always been a person who talked to others openly but the last few years in Minneapolis, there was a change in the city.  In the state know for it’s “Minnesota Nice,” I found the people were often aloof and sometimes very rude.  So rude that my husband and I have been shocked at the kindness and local support from this town called Grand Rapids.

Here are the differences:

1. Strangers talk to you without being prompted.

2.  People are truly interested in you as a person.

3. Service is easy and people seem happy.

4. No one seems angry.

Of course there are exceptions, but I think the reason is this is a smaller town but they are very focused on improving the community!  If more areas can be like Grand Rapids, I think we would all get a long more.

Everyone wants to feel appreciated and in my opinion, if this occurs, no one would even think about a mass shooting.

So in the end, we need to stop focusing on the outside.  It’s not about beauty, what kind of clothes you wear, perfect makeup and hair and if you are famous or not.  It is about showing love and kindness.