Leading With Kindness

For those who knew and loved Chris

Some people are just light.

I think young, tragic death is unthinkable. I think some people die and you’re truly lost as to why.

I wanted to share a story to my community to help them think about the way you treat people, and what you give into the world while we are here.

Chris was a former co-worker of mine, an incomparable hard-worker. It was insane, the hours he worked yet, you could never see him in a bad mood. Hyped people up around him, but most importantly moved selflessly.

Although we worked entirely different venues everyone knew Chris, and after his passing, it’s beautiful seeing the amount of people who knew him in a huge hotel. Managers from different countries knew him, customers adored him.

It’s because in a hotel, you can volunteer to help other outlets if you wanted to, and obviously Chris had made his way around the hotel, helping where he could, and everyone knew him for it.

Our New Years Eve party was the first time I worked with Chris. I remember he had come late because he had been working at his original venue.

I was annoyed. I didn’t want him working my section, because I had an instant of selfishness. Something we all get in the hospitality industry that can cause underlying tensions and poor teamwork.

I remember distinctly having that feeling, motivated by monetary gain.

I had never worked the floor before; I was normally on bar and obviously flustered. Chris, who had never worked the floor at the venue before either, just ran up to me and told me he’ll help me in whatever way he can just tell him what to do and where to be.

I think anyone you speak to, would have a similar story.

Hard-working, but innately kind, and selfless.

That memory had been the hardest thing for me for two reasons, the original sentiment I held when I first saw him which was only met with his remarkable kind heart, and the fact we started and celebrated the beginning of this year together.

This memory came as a lesson for me, to stop forcing and needing to be or do better than others, to stop thinking financial compensation correlates to happiness.

In the midst of my selfishness, Chris taught me there are gifts in giving, and we had a successful night, working together.

Life, in existence, is beautiful, be grateful for what you have, always.

He had big dreams and wasn’t afraid to share them. He was loud, carefree, and generous to everyone.

There must be a reason the good ones go.

Work is not always fun or enjoyable to be at, but let’s make a collective effort to be the people that astound others with our goodwill even in unpleasant circumstances.

Today, ask yourself, what truly matters today? What can you do in the service of others?

My memory of Chris is filled with someone who was good-natured, humorous, and inspirational.

Energy never dies, rest in paradise Christopher Covington.

If you feel called to donate to Chris’ family and his final expenses, click the button to donate.