A Small Act of Kindness to Uplift Your Spirits
This week, I’d like to share a story of kindness to help lift the heaviness so many of us are feeling. (If you prefer to hear me tell the story, click here to watch the YouTube Video.) So many stories in the news are of people not being kind or respectful to one another. The simple act of kindness that I recently witnessed gave my spirits a boost. I trust you will find it uplifting too.
If you’ve ever tasted Florida tap water, you know why I get my drinking water out of a water filtration vending machine in the foyer of a local grocery store. Our water is safe to drink, but even after passing through my Britta water filter, it has a weird, unpleasant taste. That’s why I refill my gallon water jugs at this machine. The water tastes great!
The other day, as I was putting money in the machine to fill my first water jug, a woman passed behind me in a motorized wheelchair. I looked at her briefly to ensure I wasn’t blocking her path since the machine was right there by the exit.
As she left the store, I heard her say to someone outside, “Excuse me, sir. Do you know where the elevators are?” The man’s response was similar to what I was thinking.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t. I didn’t know there were elevators or even a second floor at this store. But would you like me to find them for you?”
She answered, “No. Don’t go to any trouble. I’ll find them.” I assumed that would be the end of their interaction because, honestly, I thought that woman must be mistaken. I shop there all the time and have never seen any elevators.
As I stood there watching the stream of water flow into the jug, I suddenly heard the same man’s voice address the woman. “Ma’am! I found the elevators! They are inside the store to the left as soon as you enter.” She thanked him profusely as they both re-entered the store.
This whole scenario played out in less than a minute. I was busy making sure the water went into the jug so I never saw the kind stranger’s face. But his act of kindness really moved me. He could just as easily have forgotten about the elevators and started shopping.
Instead, he went the extra mile (or maybe the extra 20 feet) to find the elevators before running back to share his discovery with the woman. It reinforced what I believe to be true. Human beings are hard-wired to be kind and compassionate. It is our natural inclination to help our sisters and brothers.
Despite the negativity that many stories in the news and social media focus upon, I stand by my belief that people are inherently good. If I look for it, I will see evidence everywhere. It is especially apparent when hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters devastate entire neighborhoods. People in these communities join together to share resources and support from around the globe arrives. I find this to be extremely heartening.
I wish I could have told that man at the grocery store how much his small act of kindness warmed my heart. Sharing this story here is my way of expressing my gratitude. I extend that same appreciation to you because I know we all practice acts of kindness, large and small, every day.
The amount of pain and suffering in the world can feel overwhelming, but we can all do our part just by being kind and offering a helping hand when possible. This is how we expand healing love across the entire planet.
Speaking of healing and helping one another, that is one of the things I love most about Family Constellations. Strangers come together to assist each other let go and heal family patterns that no longer serve. I’ve been doing this work since 2012, and I’m still blown away by the miracles that happen. This powerful one-of-a-kind experience shows us how much more alike we are than different. And that is true healing.
If you would like to experience this miraculous modality, I have two live events coming up in Florida. One is happening at Unity of Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, February 23 from 1-4 PM. The other is at Unity of Sarasota on Saturday, March 22 from 2-5 PM. Mark your calendars! You will find all the details on the Upcoming Workshops page of my website. I look forward to being in sacred space with you.
As Ellen Degeneres used to say at the end of each show, please be kind to one another. Even little acts of kindness make a huge difference.
Dream of your brother’s kindnesses instead of dwelling in your dreams on his mistakes.
A Course in Miracles ~ T-27.VII.15:3