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Random Acts of Kindness
I met a truly wonderful woman recently. She may not know it, but I think she's special and, although I will never see her again, she has affirmed my belief, once again, in the basic goodness of people.
Standing in line in a department store waiting to pay for my purchases, I was asked if I had a "gift card," to which I replied a strained, "No?" This woman, who was getting her packages together, reached over, held her hand out and offered a folded red-and-white card which said '20% off." She said, "Use it and you'll get 20% off anything you bought. Just give it to me when you're done."
Was I being hoodwinked by some sharp thief or was I the "victim" of a good deed? I took no longer than an eye blink before I offered it to the cashier, who cheerily took 20% off everything in my small pile of items, gave it back to me and I turned to the smiling stranger and told her what I thought.
"You are wonderful. That was so kind of you." She answered, "Have a Merry Christmas." Had I just met Mrs. Claus? Was I being repaid for not passing the Salvation Army bucket and claiming poverty? Hmmmm. Was it one of those random acts of kindness I'd heard of on the internet and seen on bumper stickers? Did it really matter?
She made my evening and I don't know if she knows it, but her thoughtfulness to a stranger will bolster me in my pursuit of kindness toward others. May you have a Very Merry Christmas, kind stranger, and may your New Year bring many random acts of kindness your way.
Related Topics: Kindness is Contagious, The Science of Good Deeds, Attitude of Gratitude
Standing in line in a department store waiting to pay for my purchases, I was asked if I had a "gift card," to which I replied a strained, "No?" This woman, who was getting her packages together, reached over, held her hand out and offered a folded red-and-white card which said '20% off." She said, "Use it and you'll get 20% off anything you bought. Just give it to me when you're done."
Was I being hoodwinked by some sharp thief or was I the "victim" of a good deed? I took no longer than an eye blink before I offered it to the cashier, who cheerily took 20% off everything in my small pile of items, gave it back to me and I turned to the smiling stranger and told her what I thought.
"You are wonderful. That was so kind of you." She answered, "Have a Merry Christmas." Had I just met Mrs. Claus? Was I being repaid for not passing the Salvation Army bucket and claiming poverty? Hmmmm. Was it one of those random acts of kindness I'd heard of on the internet and seen on bumper stickers? Did it really matter?
She made my evening and I don't know if she knows it, but her thoughtfulness to a stranger will bolster me in my pursuit of kindness toward others. May you have a Very Merry Christmas, kind stranger, and may your New Year bring many random acts of kindness your way.
Related Topics: Kindness is Contagious, The Science of Good Deeds, Attitude of Gratitude
