AN ACT OF KINDNESS….PASS IT ON!
It was my birthday on Friday, and this year I finally did something that I have been wanting to do for a while, asking my friends to do some act of kindness when it presented itself for someone else.
I think the thought first came to me when I read the book, “Inspiration ….your ultimate calling” by Dr. Wayne Dyer. I’ve just looked through the book but can’t find the precise examples I am looking for, in which he talks about paying for coffee for the person behind you, and how you can start a chain reaction of kindness that way. The same had happened when he or someone else had paid the toll fee for someone behind them.
There are many other examples in his books. He calls it being of service to someone else and says he looks for opportunity to do that every day. So a few years ago, I made a conscious decision to be extra kind whenever the opportunity presented itself. I bless my bus drivers when I get on the bus, and I thank the people with the hardest jobs…the most most menial jobs….for the work they do. As a result, I have found that when I need help, it comes to me so easily, and sometimes people are so kind to me for no reason at all, that I am amazed. However, I know it is all in the blessings.
Often too, I find that when I give up my seat on the bus or train, someone else will offer me a seat, and that will continue happening for days….someone giving up a seat for me. Every day at work, the opportunity presents itself for me to do an act of kindness for someone else. Usually when a person is enthused with thanks, I simply ask them to do something nice for someone else.
I know that on my birthday, I was actually looking to do an act of kindness (I don’t work on my birthday) but the only thing that really showed up for me, was to say “thank you” to the lady who cleans the Park, for the work she does. She gave me the biggest smile ever and had the most beautiful teeth. It made my day to be able to put a smile on her face. She had just given me directions for the closest exit from the park. About half an hour later who should I meet waiting for the train, but this same lady. I wasn’t totally sure it was her, but she sat directly opposite me on the train and when she saw me, she gave me another huge smile, and then we had a short conversation, with her telling me how the heat made it so hard to work outdoors. (Thinking about it now, makes me realize that I need to be grateful for my work enviroment and not complain about it being so cold. I have options, but those who work outdoors have no way of keeping cooler).
I want to say here that this article is overdue and should have been written and published at the time that I sent out my request. For some reason, I kept putting it off as being too tired or not mentally prepared. Tonight however, I awoke thinking it was morning…time to get up. I looked at the clock and it was only 3 am. I could not get back to sleep and so I had to get up and write, and here am I at 4.30 am doing just that.
I know that means that there is someone somewhere out there who needs to read this post to be of service to someone….to be the answer to someone’s prayer. Whoever you are, do not hesitate to do the good that will have a great impact on someone else’s life. I have been at the receiving end of someone else’s goodness, often enough to know the truth about that.
Remember too, that it may not be something that you have to do, but rather something that you have to say…..a few words that may be a consolation or a confirmation to someone else….a sign that they have been waiting for.
As Dr Wayne Dyer did, I too will quote you Napoleon Hill….”If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way. Don’t wait for great opportunities. Seize common, everyday ones and make them great.”
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