Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness should go without saying and not need a contest to bring out the best in people. In today’s complex world, it is sometimes rather difficult to show random acts of kindness without being looked upon as an oddity or crazy person. With the COVID pandemic on top of it all, there leaves little room for acts of kindness when everyone wears a masks or refuses to shake hands. However, words can affect people in very positive ways and can also be heard from behind a mask. Words are the backbone of our society, the way communities come together. Words affect another person’s mood and self-esteem. It is up to each and every one of us to use words in a positive way. This is how I will spread some kindness in my community.

I do not go out very often as I am currently disabled. Having said that, I still need to pick up groceries, get prescriptions filled and feed my cats, silly critters. These errands necessitate a weekly trip to the stores. I firmly believe that many of the people who work in these stores are there because they have to be, they need a job in any form they can get one, as opposed to wanting to be. In fact, I don’t think I know anyone who voluntarily set 'working in a store' as a personal occupational goal, whether it be as a stock boy or cashier or floater or any of the myriad of positions needed to keep a store running smoothly. Sure, keeping such establishments open will not only benefit a community, but will benefit the individual it provides employment to as well. Still, I really don’t think that anyone has the lifelong ambition of being a cashier. Then again, I could be wrong.

I remember at the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020 when just about everything was shut down. Doctors and hospital staff were hailed as heroes and rightly so. But it wasn’t until us regular folk opened our eyes and recognized that grocery store workers and clerks should also be considered part of the frontline. Where else would we have been able to keep our families fed, clothes cleaned, pets cared for? When such workers were finally included in the ‘hero’ category, I was very glad and proud that people, even with all the stress and uncertainty of not knowing about the disease, rallied to their defense. It is to these people that more respect and compassion needs to be shown. I’ve decided that that is how I will show some kindness this year. With every trip to a store that I need to visit as opposed to want to visit, I will purposely seek out workers and say a few nice words to them, commending them on their dedication and thanking them for being there. It is only right that they get shown some respect as you would any doctor or nurse. Besides, when was the last time that the all but forgotten custodians and cleaners, who actually keep a hospital running, were commended for their efforts?

My goal of 2022 will be to make sure that I reach at least 5 people in any necessary store I visit. Regardless if I only get out once or twice a week, I am sure that I will have brightened someone’s day and made it more pleasant for them to do their job, even if only for that brief moment. Isn’t that what kindness is all about? This is an easy enough task for all of us to do. And if everyone were to make such a promise, wouldn’t that make the world just a smidgeon more tolerable?

I will also give up a disabled parking spot when I physically can. I have good days and bad, but regardless, when I have to get out then that’s what I have to do. Having said that, there are days when I don’t necessarily need a handicapped parking spot and can manage the few extra steps. As a favor to myself (walk a little!!) and to someone else who might really need the spot, I will forego using it. Nothing is more frustrating than having to drive around and around trying find a handicapped spot when your feet aren’t working well. From personal experience I know how vital it can be to save a few extra steps on those days when the pain is unbearable. And even though there will always be people who have a handicapped sticker yet don’t really need it, on those shopping trips when I am able, I will brave the few extra steps and leave the spot available for someone else’s use. If anyone asks, I will gladly explain why I did what I did. I can only hold onto the hope that someone someday might do the same for me.