Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people and that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one is willing to lend them a hand without reward.
This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. Mila Lynn is a shining example.
A visual artist that creates unique, one-of-a-kind creations, Mila uses her gift to educate, inspire, and uplift. Her art speaks to its viewers, and those messages have been heard from the enthusiastic scene in Miami, Florida to the appreciative Wimbledon Art Studios in London, England.
One of Mila’s current projects is limited edition King and Queen paintings. They depict prominent Black women and men using the royal diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades from a traditional deck of cards. Their premise is presenting Black people as something other than villains and victims.
While good at what she does, she’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked Mila Lynn to tell me about a time when she did something nice for someone that she didn’t know. Here’s what she shared.
“I am currently housed at REACH Studio Art Center in Lansing, Michigan. I have a lady who stands outside my studio.
From what people tell me she started standing outside my studio more often than she did in front of the liquor store which is a little further down the street. Her name’s Brenda.
I used to always see her, and she’d be on the corner with her headphones on singing and praising, and whatever else she was doing. I used to never say anything when I saw her. But then I had an experience in Grand Rapids.
There’s a lot of times, especially in the Black community, we mind our own business. You can know somebody might be a little bit off, but you don’t get involved in it. Sometimes that goes a little too far. And by you not getting involved and you not checking in on people, well, maybe that person really needs help, and nobody pays attention to them.
So, when they go off the rails and do something like [hurt] someone because they had, like, a psychotic break, then everyone’s concerned. But nobody even cared enough to involve themselves with that person.
And I’m not saying Brenda’s like that at all, but I decided to talk to her which I feel is very different from a lot of people who come in and out of that space.
Brenda told me a long story about her family. She’s very vibrant. And she knew who I was! She walked me to my front window! We stood out there for about an hour and a half talking. She told me about her son. Everybody thinks she’s homeless, and she lives on the corner! She’s not homeless! I also don’t think she’s crazy! She might have some mental health issues but she’s a living, breathing person that needs to be interacted with!
From having that conversation with her I can tell when I should stop and talk to her. Not that I don’t all the time, but I can tell when she looks like she’s having a rough day. She’ll be somewhere else down on the block when I feel like she’s having a tougher time. I let her know by continuing to interact with her. She gives hug. These are certain circumstances that I feel people will turn their nose up.
I don’t know that I necessarily did anything nice for her, but sometimes just acknowledging people is nice, right?
I definitely know what it’s like to be in a space where people just walk past you. You’re not seen. You don’t matter. Even the psychology and mental health around that can be draining.
Sometimes just saying ‘Hi’ to people can be nice.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
“We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” – ‘We Are the World’
