Half way through the week, gang! It’s all downhill from here! To remind everybody the value of decency and kindness, here’s a letter submitted to The Vancouver Sun. Taking a few minutes out of your busy day to be kind to somebody can really make a difference. Why not give it a try today and see how you feel afterwards?
An act of kindness warmed a rainy day
Letter
Published: Saturday, May 10, 2008
I took my little girl (almost three) to St. George’s School Fair last Saturday morning and, not thinking straight, forgot to stop at the bank along the way. When we reached the front of the line at the JJ Bean stall, I realized I didn’t have enough money. I explained to the server that I needed to go to the ATM and asked if she could hold the last purple Smarties cupcake for my little girl.
A gentleman next to me heard my predicament and asked what I’d be getting. I said my little girl wanted a hot chocolate and the purple cupcake. He handed me a $10 bill. When I declined, he insisted. I asked for his address so I could post him a reimbursement and he said, “Call it a random act of kindness.”
The warm feeling brought tears to my eyes. I reassured him that, if I saw him again after going to the ATM, he’d get his money back. He told me not to worry about it.
I never again saw the man with the border collie and the generous heart but, to you, sir, I would like to say thank you for warming my rainy soul and providing my daughter a lesson about kindness that I will repeat to her for years to come.
Jennifer Timer
Vancouver
Kindness is a lot like a prankster’s gift… even if it comes in a small box, the prize can be remarkably big or, conversely, a big and brightly wrapped box might not have anything that spectacular inside (unless you’re morbidly fascinated by bubble-wrap). Think about it… if I give $50 to Bill Gates, is he really going to be all that impressed? Sure, to me, it’s a noticeable amount of money, but he would earn more in the time it took him to open the envelope than he’d gain from its contents. On the other hand, a $5 bill handed to a homeless man could make the difference between going hungry and going to bed with a full stomach. With that in mind, here are some relatively small acts that can really make a positive difference in somebody’s life despite the minor effort required.