Random Acts of Kindness

There is a quote in Game of Thrones that I think may resonate with many people today. ‘The Night is dark and full of terrors.’ Though at the moment, I think many would feel we could probably apply ‘full of terrors’ to any time, day or night.

At this point, I could list all the things ‘terrors’ could apply to, but Im not going to. People avoid watching the news because its depressing. The home security industry is booming. We all know without the reminders.

Instead, there is something else I would like to take a moment to remind everyone of.

Maya Angelou said

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

While I don’t think she is completely correct, I don’t think she is wrong either.

I remember what people did. I remember what they did because of how I felt when they did it.

For example:

I would have been around 5 years old when a gentleman who owned a store I was visiting with my parents gifted me an adorable plush dog I had been admiring. I lost it somewhere along the way in childhood. But I still remember how happy that little gift made me.

Fast forward to my 20’s. I was a student struggling to make ends meet. One of my fellow students noticed that I rarely ate lunch. She would buy an extra sandwich or salad from the canteen whenever our classmates sat together for lunch and quietly slide it over in front of me without anyone else noticing. Her generosity made me want to cry, I was so grateful.

The start of Covid was a really hard time for my son and I. We were separated for a couple of weeks out of necessity. It was only a couple of weeks, but the impact was long lasting. A perfect stranger heard my story and gifted us enough money to take a holiday, just the two of us. I would never have been able to afford it at that point. I don’t even know her name.

There are other little stories, no less significant in terms of how happy and grateful they left me feeling.

There will be times, like these, that there is no opportunity to say thank you to the people who have done so much.

So, I pay it forward every chance I can.

Today, I had one such opportunity.

While browsing the toy sales (there is a young man’s birthday coming up), a boy who looked like he was a few years younger than my son joined me in the Lego aisle. He looked over a particular type of Lego, Super Mario sets that when put together make a fun game for the kids. He counted the money in his hand. He smiled a bit sadly, telling me he didn’t quite have enough to buy the box he would really like to. He had enough for a much smaller one. I know the sets; I have bought a couple for my son. I know they are more fun with the particular boxes he had his eye on. The box he could buy really doesn’t add much at all.

I started to say to him the usual responsible adult spiel, that’s ok, there are sales all the time, save your money and maybe you can get it next time.

But I stopped mid sentence. I had the exact money he needed in my purse. I rarely carry cash. I don’t think I'm alone in that.

So instead I told him I had enough cash for the box and he could have it.

The expression on his face was priceless. A mixture of shock and pure joy. He said thank you so many times. I smiled, handed the money over and told him to enjoy his game.

I don’t know his name and he doesn’t know mine. But I'm sure we will both remember this little event and how we felt for a long, long time.

It is not the first time Ive done something like that. I have paid for a stranger’s coffee, given someone a dollar when they came up short at the cashier. I gave away my old used car when I got a new one.

I would possibly be much better off financially if I didn’t do these things.

But would I be wealthier?

I don’t think so.

My motivation for sharing these experiences is not to get a pat on the back or recognition of any kind. It is not because I want sympathy for the hard times. My motive is simple. I hope to inspire others to make those gestures that make such important memories for others. To inspire hope in people who need it.

I was given hope when I was down. I have had my faith in the existence of good people restored when it felt like they were too few and far between.

It doesn’t take much. We don’t need to give away money, a car or even a toy. A little ‘you are stronger than you know’ note left to be found by a person who needs it, a crocheted smiling sun in the garden outside a café to be found, a painted stone with a message someone might be in need of or even just a smile if it is all you have to give.

And I can tell you, it can make you feel as good to give as it does to receive.

Pay forward what you can, when you can. A random act of kindness has a way of making a big impact.