I filled up my coffee cup at convenience store counter and reached for the creamer. When I looked up, I saw out of the periphery of my eye an old man with a walker. He was hunched over and looked vaguely familiar, like one of my old high school teachers. I could tell right away that it wasn’t the same guy. He was smaller and had a darker complexion than my teacher. It was still fun though to recall happy memories from another time and place.
I watched the old man pay for his items and make his way to the door. He seemed to be struggling with his walker. He grimaced with every step and looked incredibly sad. I felt sorry for him.
Turning the tide
I put the lid on my coffee and was now in line to pay. I still couldn’t help but watch the man. I was on the other side of the store, but I considered walking over and helping him open the door. Fortunately, a teenager held open the doors for the man. He waited patiently and made sure the man had a clear path. The teen looked like your typical skateboarder type and had air of kindness about him. He must have said something to the man, because they both starting laughing. A smile spread from one side of the man’s face to the other.
It was like Moses had pounded his staff into the ground and the Red Sea parted. It was that dramatic. One second it was rough seas and a deep sadness. The next one, the sea was pushed back and a relieved smile filled the man’s face. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one to see the change. A woman in scrubs in front of me noticed me looking in the same direction as her. She nodded to the two and said that she wanted in on the joke. “It must have been a doozy.”
You can do it!
Later, my wife and I were out and she made a stop at the pharmacy. When she went in, I stayed out in the car. I watched as a car pulled up next to us. A young woman got out and went around to the back to grab her baby. The infant must have been crying. The woman held her close to her chest and gently rocked back and forth.
The woman, who I assumed was the mother, looked tired. An older woman, who came out of the store, asked how old the baby was. The mother said she was eight months old and was teething. “Oh you poor baby,” she said, careful to stay a few feet away, but obviously interested. “Let me guess, it’s one of her two bottom teeth. They’re always the pesky ones.”
For a second the older woman seemed to reminisce about her own memories. She caught herself and told the mother to stay strong. “You’re doing an amazing job mom. Hang in there. Sleep will come.”
The mother’s face lit up. You could tell that the praise meant something to her. In a heartbeat, the moment was over and they went their separate ways. The mother, though, seemed to carry less weight on her shoulders and stood taller.
One kind word and her struggle was replaced with peace and calm.
Noticing the world around us
The two incidents reminded me this week that we see “Miracles of Kindness” happen all around us. They happen every day. We don’t always stop to take notice of them or see them for what they are. We’re often oblivious to them. We’re caught up in our lives. But, nonetheless, they happen.
As a mentor used to describe it, we’re the star of our own show. We’re busy. We have lots going on in our lives. We’re Bruce Springsteen singing to a packed arena. We’re Taylor Swift signing autographs. We’re caught up in our own fires and emergencies. But then we get a kind comment here. We get a gentle touch there. We go from being overwhelmed to having the strength and inspiration we need.
We rarely see these acts of kindness for what they are. They’re just simple moments throughout our day. It’s only when we step back that we have perspective. We gain the wisdom to see that we’ve experienced a mini miracle of sorts.
Yes, me too
I can relate. For example, I went to the post office the other day to buy stamps. Right before I parked, heavy rain began to fall. I considered skipping the errand, but I wanted to check it off my to-do list. I made a mad dash into the office, getting soaked in the process. I walked into the building stewing over my bad luck.
Two things turned me around. First, when I got to the lobby, a little girl greeted me. She was maybe four or five years old and was wearing a purple rain jacket and boots. She asked if I loved the rain as much as her. Where I viewed the rain as a negative, she viewed it as a chance to jump into puddles.
The little girl’s mother told her to stop bothering me, but her magic was already doing its thing. The kindness seeped into my veins and turned my frustration into optimism. I leaned down and told the girl that I was glad she was having fun. I told her that she had a great idea. I would have to think about playing in a few puddles when I got home.
Next, when I got to the front of the counter, a postal worker handed me several tissues to wipe off my glasses and face. “It’s raining cats and dogs out there. I swear I saw a cat fall from the sky,” she said.
We both laughed. Later when I was back in my car, I had to laugh again at the silly comment. It really did look like a cats and dogs kind of day. Most important, I realized that kindness goes a long way.
What do you think? How has the kindness of others changed your day recently?
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Check out my personal lifestyle blog at www.writingfromtheheartwithbrian.com to read other pieces by me. Be sure to follow me on Instagram at @writingfromtheheartwithbrian. Thanks for reading.
The Heart of the Matter 
Oh my goodness…the little girl and her purple rain jacket and boots? Straight to my heart. Thank you for sharing these stories, Brian. Reminders to keep our eyes open, chin up. 🥰
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Yes, the little girl took the bluster out of my sails. I couldn’t be a grumpy gus with her all excited about the rain. “Yeaaaaa, honey, I love it too.” Of course, I have to admit that there might have been a few #$%#@ under my breath. Ha, ha.
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lol! 🥰🤣🥰
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I love this piece and these everyday stories! Great observations! It’s amazing how a little encouragement and kindness can have such big impacts and really turn a situation around.
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When I was writing the piece, I worried readers might think I was just taking everyone along on my day, kind of like Mr. Rogers. Ha, ha, I’m glad the meaning came through. Thanks Todd.
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I smiled when I read about the little girl in her raincoat and boots. It’s amazing how such a simple interaction can improve your outlook.
Kindness seems to be an increasingly rare commodity in our world these days. Everyone is so wrapped up in their own world that they don’t take the time to notice others. During my vacation in Ireland this summer, I had a few encounters that showed me how helpful the Irish people are. They would go out of their way to help a stranger. Sadly, when I got back to Toronto, I was wanting to go back to Ireland because people were generally rude, and pushing past my 91-year old mum to get to wherever they were going.
Sigh! I suppose all we can do is try to spread a little kindness in our own part of the world and hope others will follow suit.
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Sorry to hear about your interactions when you came home. It’s always disappointing when that happens. But you’re so right, if we spread a little kindness in our little worlds, who knows what might happen next. At least that’s the story I’m sticking to today!!! Ha, ha, thanks for the comment Michelle!
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I admit I see little kindness in my day to day, and I’ve gotten to the point where blunt is good in my eye because at least it’s not bad
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Yes, we seem to go through stretches like that where kindness is an after-thought. Parental issues can be tough. But, hey, blunt is a start. Who knows what’s around the next corner? Hang in there LA, thinking of you.
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💕
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Brian – I absolutely love this piece. You do such a great job of showing how it’s the really small “seeing” and interactions that make a BIG difference. I am guilty of sometimes thinking it has to be something significant to make a difference – or I save it up for those closest to me. Thank you for reminding me that there are a thousand little ways to spread kindness every day. So impactful!
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In my comment to Todd, I mentioned that I felt like I was guiding people through my day like something out of Mr. Rogers. Maybe I need to do that more often Wynne. Ha, ha. I’m with you though. I sometimes feel that my acts have to be big, powerful, significant. Maybe it’s the little, day-to-day things? Ha, ha. There goes my Nobel Peace Prize award. Ha, ha.
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I have been the lucky recipient of a number of kindnesses throughout my life, and have been witness to them as well. these are moments than can and do make all the difference for someone, as we never truly know what they are suffering at any point in time.
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We’re all carrying some suffering. We just don’t know what it is. Best to be kind to everyone. If they fail to return in kind, it’s their loss.
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Love, love, love this. Thank you for spreading a ray of sunshine around amidst the many storm clouds that are brewing around us! We can change the world—one mind at a time!
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That’s sort of what I was thinking Julia. At least, I wanted to try to cheer myself up. Ha, ha. Too much bad out there, gotta look for the good. 😎😎😎😎
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Your act of engaging with the little girl was central to me. You might have made her day. You saw her, her perspective, and took her seriously, giving her your own gift, Brian. At that moment you did what you described of all the others you watched. Bravo! Beautifully written, too.
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Oh, I’m as curmudgeonly and introverted as they come . . . but I couldn’t help but celebrate with the little girl. She had the right idea. She was the smart one. Ha, ha. Ya gotta make the best of things. Thanks Dr. Stein.
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Din’t sell yourself short, Brian. You are in transit, as we all are. Once upon a time I might have been quite like you. I suspect you will see the future as a question to be answered. Good luck with it
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Wonderful post. I reached out to a neighbor that I’ve only said a few words to. She moved here in February. Her husband died in his sleep several weeks ago. I emailed the new neighbor and asked her if I could do anything, if she needed someone to talk or walk with. Then I saw her out on a walk and she was so moved, she was in tears. Sharing kindness with others changes my day.
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That’s such a wonderful story EA! I know for me — I always question doing things like that and then when I do, it makes me feel so good. I’m sure it meant a lot to your neighbor. 🙏🏼🙏🏼😎😎😎
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Yes. It took me several days to do it, but I’m so glad I did.
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Good for you!!!
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When my husband and I walk in the wee hours of the morning and pass the teenagers waiting for the school bus, we’re always delighted about how polite and friendly they are. Smiles, after all, are contagious! Thanks for the great post about acts of kindness, Brian. 🙂
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Everyday kindness fills my heart. I love your stories.
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Good stuff, Brian! It’s often the simplest of gestures that mean a lot. The beautiful part is this aspect of the pay it forward model has an effect on others, even if they aren’t doing it intentionally,
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You’re so right Pete. It makes a difference!
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Beautiful moments, Brian. It is these small moments that are amplified in our memories. Small moments of kindness indeed, whether done to us or we see done to others. They really do light up the day! 💕
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Gives us strength for the tough days!
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What a lovely post Brian. So many kindnesses around us. You’re right, we notice them when we step back from our own spotlights and fires. Simple gestures, little words of kindness carry so much weight. It’s a beautiful thing and all around us. I hope when you got home you played in some puddles.
Thanks for sharing these stories that brighten our day.
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I didn’t have a chance to play in the puddle. Work was calling me. But I played in a bunch of puddles in spirit. I was right there with the my new friend. Ha ha.
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😍
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This is wonderful Brian. It’s special that you have shared this with the world and I’m delighted to find it here after meeting you over on Cheryl’s blog. Kindness is therapy for humanity and celebrating stories like yours will administer it to the world. Such a similar story to yours and how much I believe in the heart of what you’ve offered in it so much, is the origin story of why I decided to build a place with some friends just for that, alongside a bunch of other fun ways to nurture and understand kindness better. I won’t post a link out of kindness to your site use rules but it’s called KindLoook which is easy to find with a search. Please do feel at peace with removing this comment if you still feel it is in violation of your rules.
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