Love What Matters.

This is a story about my cousin, Gigi. She died tragically last December in a car accident. I miss her everyday. She was one of most beautiful souls I have ever met. She became an aunt a few months before she passed away. The proudest day of her life was the day she became Aunt Gigi. She was a friend to everyone. A sister to anyone who needed or wanted one. She was someone who would surprise people with balloons, coffee, a meal, a card, with one of her amazing hugs. She made sure that you knew you were loved and not alone. She was always excited to celebrate with you. She proudly wore her heart on the outside and there was never a doubt about how lovely she was. Gigi was never afraid to spend her money or her time to help a friend and no one she met was ever a stranger after that. Her cats Leah and Nimbus were her babies. I am lucky to have to have them in my home. They give me her love everyday. They cuddle and kiss and they’re just the most loving beings like her. I would give almost anything to have Gigi back here Earthside. Since her passing our family decided to engage in Gigi-style acts of random kindness. It started a few days before Christmas last year when we gathered at Walmart on Christmas Eve ‘Eve’ for the annual Christmas shopping trip that she would have with her Mom, aunt, sister and cousin all while wearing pajamas. We decided that we should continue the tradition in our own way. This time however we wanted to give random people gift cards or envelopes with money just to honor Gigi’s love and kindness. Then for her birthday in August we secretly bought cakes for families celebrating birthdays that month. As families picked up their cakes and saw the card we designed awareness grew rapidly and people around the country ended buying cakes in Gigi’s honor to keep the Love moving forward. Then it turned into some people buying gifts for others in Target or a months worth of free coffee to anyone who needed it. A few of the recipients of the cakes posted to their facebook page and we got to see Gigi’s kindness and love come around full circle. Her love came back to us. We are making up more Gigi kindness business cards to continue little acts of love and kindness all year round. Gigi’s body may not be here, but her spirit is and will continue to spread love and kindness through us. I couldn’t think of a better legacy to leave.