Viral Kindness...

I’ve talked about this so many times that you may be tired of hearing it.  You may not even believe it.  I don’t care because I believe it is a Universal Truth.  Good Is The Rule, Not The Exception.

It’s a simple truth, really.  Human beings are born without prejudice.  Babies don’t know about hate.  Those things are taught and passed down from others who have allowed fear, greed, and selfishness to infect their lives. 

In the last several years, we’ve allowed division to come between us – whether it’s political, economic, or cultural - the divide is great.  Add in a terrifying pandemic, the spotlight only seems to shine on the divide and it blinds us to the beautiful humanity that forges on quietly.  Those who continue to do the good and right things do so *because* they are good and right.  They’re not likely to be featured on the nightly news and that’s not important to them.

Good deeds have become trendy.  If people want to pay for the overpriced coffee drink of the person behind them at the drive through, I hope they feel good about themselves and continue to share kindness in other ways.  Let’s make THIS viral!

Over the last year, so many kind deeds have landed at my doorstep.  I’m grateful for every one and try to pay it forward in whatever way I can.  I don’t actually think I’m behaving differently than I have my entire life but maybe I’m a bit more mindful of it in the hopes that small acts of kindness - a nice word to a stranger, holding a door, or letting someone ahead of me in line – will plant a seed that will grow thoughout the world. 

The other day, I was at the dollar store, completing my transaction.  As I was picking up my bag, the man behind me wanted to pay for his 2 items with a hundred dollar bill and was told they couldn’t break it.  I still had my wallet out so I paid the $2.09.  He tried to decline but then gratefully accepted.  We walked out together, he held the door for me, and walked me to my car, while telling me that what he bought was ribbon for his wife’s craft project because he knew she needed more but wouldn’t have asked for it.  He left his jobsite early to get it for her and was just so happy telling me about her.  Those ten minutes I spent talking to him was quite a return on my two dollar investment. 

When I left there, I went to the post office, where there was a line.  There was a woman ahead of me and a woman behind me who clearly knew one another and were trying to talk but didn’t want to disturb the line.  I traded places with the woman behind me so they could chat.  It was a slow line, they included me in the conversation, then the man behind me joined in.  We all got something out of it while we were stuck there.  You know what happened next?  The man held the door for someone on his way out. 

This is my challenge to anyone reading this: open your eyes and look at people around you.  Smile.  Lend a hand if you can.  You don’t need to spend money to make a tiny ripple in another’s day. Just being seen can have a profound effect.  Give it a shot.

Keep your mask on.  Wash your hands.  Then do your part to make tiny steps toward making kindness go viral.