Reflecting on Kindness

Below is an e-mail from my friend Meghan,
and then my response to her.


Meghan:

"Have you ever just sat there and watched people and noticed all of the wonderful little gestures that happen? like yesterday - i'm walking across the street to work, and notice a gentleman helping up a lady who had fallen in the street. Thinking it was her hubby, i just thought how nice it was that he helped his wife...until i saw them part ways at the corner. a random stranger had paused in his day to help this woman up. and then this morning on the bus, a girl's bag fell off her lap. The guy sitting across from her picked it back up and handed it to her, and she flashed him this great smile...just a random little touching moment between two strangers. i know it's corny, but little things like that just make my day. There's the homeless guy on madison that always yells out "happy friday" or "happy tuesday" to the commuters rushing to catch the bus. this man always sounds genuinely happy, and his random praise of each day of the week always puts a little spring in my step."

Liz:

"YES, it is amazing that you just said this-- because just within the last week, this man (who may have had Asperger's syndrome) on the bus was almost frantic because he didn't know how he'd get to his friend's house. the bus driver tried to help him, i didn't know the street he needed so i couldn't help him. then this man (who also looked like he had some type of impediment) chimes in and helps him! it was amazing!!!!! absolutely warmed my heart. i am so glad you thought to tell me these stories."


Kindness. It IS all around us. And it's a beautiful thing.