Life is tough. So, we appreciate it when someone shows us a kindness. Right? But often those that do kind things for us are those closest to us. I challenge you to widen your circle of kindness. While it might not come back to you at the rate you would like, it is always good to build up stock in the bank of good karma. Do something nice for someone you don’t know. That’s right. Someone you don’t even know…at all.
Being Thoughtful
A few weeks ago I visited my mum who lives in a small town in Iowa. I have used the Find a Grave website for many years to help me locate the burial sites of my far flung ancestors. People have so kindly taken photos of headstones that I have requested and helped me to verify information, build memorial pages and further my research. Knowing how satisfying it is to see your forebears headstone in living color via the magic of the internet, I took it upon myself to do something kind.
I printed out a list of photo requests for this particular cemetery….there were only about 25 and with the help of the cemetery directory the mister and I set out out to divide and conquer. Some we couldn’t find. A few I couldn’t verify the information. One my mom told me that she personally knew that the individual was cremated and absolutely not interred. The rest we were successful in finding and imaging.
Why did I spend a couple of hours doing this? I wasn’t “paying back” the people that had taken photos for me. But I was paying it forward to other people that are in the same situation that I am in. My random kindness did garner several thank you messages on my FAG page, but that isn’t why I did it. I, too, have searched for lost graves of ancestors and I know what the reward of “found” grave feels like and what the disappointment of an unmarked grave feels like. Hopefully this brought a ray of sunshine into a random stranger’s day.
But I like cookies too!
Before Christmas I baked hundreds of cookies to send to grandkids, give to friends and to bribe the mister’s radio-controlled airplane buddies. Thursday morning I felt the urge to make up a nice box of cookies for the Hawai’ian grandkids. After surveying the kitchen, I headed up to the corner drugstore hoping that I could get everything that I needed. I did. Almost. They don’t carry brown sugar. Not their fault, it is a drug store not a bakery supply after all. But I was a bit cranky at the thought of having to go to the very place I was trying so hard to avoid.
Next was a checkout challenge. I had a 5 dollar off a 20 dollar purchase coupon. I had about 22.00 in merchandise before taxes but the computer wouldn’t take the coupon because it said I hadn’t met the minimum purchase. Huh? The cashier was befuddled and trying her best, but she just couldn’t make it work. She asked a manager to give her a hand and while they attempted to get the computer to accept the coupon the cashier asked me what I was making. Cookies. Sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, salted toffee oatmeal cookies. Lots of cookies. “Oh wow!” she replied. “What are you going to do with all of them?” I told her that they were headed to the islands. She giggled and said “But I like cookies too!”
The coupon issue was kindly resolved and I was on my way. After getting the brown sugar from the stupid grocery store (I hate to shop, even for groceries!) I got started on my project. Batches and batches of cookies. Lots of trays going in and out of the oven and onto cooling racks. On the bar, on the table on the countertops. Cookie, cookie, everywhere! And all I could think about was “But I like cookies too!”
Random happiness
Once, oh so long ago in a former life, I was also a cashier in a drugstore. I packed up a couple of each type of cookie and a slice of blueberry streusel cake that I made (hang on, that is another post and you will LOVE it!). I put them all in a cute little pink bag and drove back up to the drugstore. She was behind the counter just having finished waiting on a customer. “Here are your cookies” I said. “Share them or not, but I hope you enjoy!” “OH MY GOD!” she shouted. “You are so awesome! You just made my day. Thank you so much!”
With that, I left the store. With a smile. That was easy, cheap and painless. Yet it was so worth my time. What she doesn’t realize is that is was she that made MY day.
A Challenge
Break out of your routine and do something kind and random for someone you don’t know. This week. Just do it. And once you have, I promise that you will want to do it again. It will make their day and yours!