If you were to ask Kyle Strand to sum up his past in a single gesture, he would likely stick his thumb down. “I started doing drugs really early,” Kyle says. Along with enduring addiction, homelessness, and mental issues, Kyle says he saw at least 50 friends die from overdoses. “It’s brutal,” he says. It’s what led Kyle to hitting his rock bottom. “You go down to that deep level and something switches,” Kyle says. “You want to change.” Kyle says he was finally determined to seek support and do all the hard work you have to do to change your life. “Just believe in yourself,” Kyle says. “And just do it.” One of the things Kyle decided to do—to maintain being drug-free for seven years—was walk to the end of his driveway, stop beside the busy street, and stick out his thumb. “One day I just started thumbing up people,” Kyle smiles. Kyle doesn’t remember why he decided to give that first car passing a thumbs up, but he’ll never forget how great it felt to keep offering it to every other vehicle after. “I just love it,” Kyle smiles. “It’s just fun.” Kyle never expected people to respond with smiles and waves and honks, so he kept at it for hours. “My thumb doesn’t hurt but my shoulder gets sore after a while,” Kyle says. His cheeks also get sore from all the smiling it inspires. If you ask Kyle why he’s continued to give passing strangers a thumbs up almost every day for months now, he’ll answer: “to pay back the community.” Because after being a negative part of the community in the past, Kyle says he’s committed to being a perpetually positive part now. “Give out positive energy,” Kyle smiles, before sticking up his thumb to a truck that responds with a honk. “Positive energy comes back.” Kyle has learned that small gestures can make a big impact. If you ask him what he hopes others learn from his story, he’ll tell you to never give up on yourself and, whenever you can, give a thumbs up to someone else.
