Surf Cat

No one will argue that day-to-day living presents all of us with our own unique, individual hurdles. Getting to work or school, making sure we have a home for our family, food to eat, whatever it is — we all face these things as best we can and get on with our day. We may even complain about them just a little.

Now imagine navigating that same day, doing those same things, while living with a mental illness. Suddenly makes your day seem a bit easier, doesn’t it?

Most of us think nothing of hopping into our cars at any time of day to get where we need to go. Yet I have seen and heard people with mental illness wait for a later bus because they do not want to take one that is too crowded.

Sometimes, people on a crowded bus can be very unkind and the comments and stares are something to be avoided by waiting another hour or so. Yes, they will arrive home later than they’d like, but they will arrive home without feeling humiliated.

This same humiliation can and does happen sometimes when someone waiting in the checkout line is using their FoodShare card for food. The comments said under the breath are never really meant to be quiet and are always heard by the person using the card. That moment of waiting, that slight inconvenience, will always be remembered by that card holder as a moment of fear and humiliation.

The problem is, these moments leave lasting scars. Scars that will only lead to more shame and isolation. This is something we don’t need in our community.

So here is a challenge for all of Kenosha — a kindness challenge, if you will. There are three parts to this challenge and all three of them are very easy:

1. Say hello to each other and smile — on the street, in the stores, on the buses, wherever you are. A good morning, a how ya doing, a nice to see you — so easy to do — so welcoming! What a happy place this would be if we all just tried this!

2. If you see someone making a comment about someone else, SPEAK UP! Do it nicely but speak up. Tell them you don’t agree. Stick up for the person who’s being humiliated. Be a hero!

3. If you really want to help others, get to know what services are available in Kenosha. Then when you see someone in need, give them that information. Send them to the right place for what they need. Pick up the Information Please! magazine. That is a treasure trove of resource information.

So, do you accept the challenge, Kenosha?

Mary Lindqvist is the grant and development director for Kenosha Human Development Services.