Dartmouth Man’s Kind Roadside Sign Turns Frowns Upside Down

If you're having a bad day, read this.

Dartmouth native Barrett Anselmo knows bad days happen, and so he did something about it.

On Tuesday, June 27, I was traveling down Reed Road in Dartmouth, making my way toward Route 6. While waiting in traffic for the light to turn green, I could hear cars honking their horns ahead of me. As I approached the lights, I was face to face with 33-year-old Anselmo.

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He was holding a sign that read:

In case no one told you today, you're stronger than you think.

Keep going.

I carefully pulled my car into the House of Rage parking lot across from the Shell gas station and made my way over to chat with Anselmo. He was nervous at first but found the strength to tell his story.

"I've had a friend recently that lost her daughter and her journal was filled with a lot of notes that said she was 'tired,'" Anselmo said. "I know that feeling far too well and I want people to know that they're not alone and that they are stronger."

Anselmo held back tears as he opened up and I could hear the pain in his voice. I consoled him as he told me how he had to muster up the strength to even hold the sign in front of hundreds of passing strangers.

When he's not spreading love and positivity, Anselmo works two jobs, supporting his son and family around the clock, all while trying to save up to pay for his wedding in October.

"I'm beyond proud of him," Anselmo's wife Jewels said. "He deserves all the good in the world. We always seem to get the rough end of the stick and he still tries his best to be so positive and do good always."

One by one, cars pulled over to give Anselmo a hug or a simple wave and a beep. Little did Anselmo know that the world needed him today. He claims this is just the beginning and plans on showing his sign to anyone who needs a pick-me-up.

Before I left, I asked Anselmo if he could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

His answer was perfect.

"Smile and say hello to everybody because a simple hello can change someone's life," he said.