This Season's Accessory...Kindness

I consider myself a very generous, kind person, and just the other day I was treated with unexpected kindness that warmed my heart (on this cold rainy day).  At this busy and hectic time of year I want to express the importance of kindness toward others…and how I see this as an important accessory.

Last week, I was parking in a lot where you are required to prepay your parking and leave the ticket face up in your vehicle.  I did so, and prepaid for and hour and a half.  As luck would have it, I was out of my appointment in 15 minutes. I didn’t want my money to go to waste, and I wanted to do something nice for someone, so the next car that pulled into the parking lot was a young woman with a baby in her carseat.  I walked up to her and handed her my prepaid parking ticket.  She was taken by surprise by this random act of kindness.  I saved her the cost of the ticket, the work of having to take her child out of the carseat to walk to purchase the ticket and to again return to put the ticket in her car. She was very happy to accept this kind gesture, and I was thrilled to ‘make someone’s day’. 

What goes around, comes around.

The other day I was at the One Of A Kind Craft show, where I parked my car, and I too walked to the booth to prepay my ticket when a young couple came up behind me and offered me their prepaid ticket  (as they were leaving the event) that still had several hours left on it.  My heart skipped a beat! I was overwhelmed by their random act of kindness and I had told them of MY story of doing the same for someone just a few days prior. 

Some people may think of this as ripping the system off, but I tend to disagree.  It’s not about ripping off the system, it’s about making the most of our dollar; it’s about being thoughtful; it’s about going out of your way to do a kind gesture; it’s about being compassionate; it’s about paying it forward.

People in general are not unkind, but not a lot of people go out of their way TO be kind to others, which is my point in this topic.  It’s about making the effort, going that extra mile, committing any random act of kindness.

The surprise of this gesture toward me is so overwhelming, because I am usually the giver.  (paying for the person behind me at Tim Horton’s drive thru, no matter the cost; donating gently used clothing and household items to various charities; supporting United Way, Salvation Army, local Scout and sports groups, through various ongoing fundraisers; donating to the local food banks; ALWAYS being there for a friend or family member in need, in any capacity; petting pets as I walk by; letting drivers yield in on the roads; smiling and always using my manners!  As I said I’m usually the giver so it was a beautiful surprise to be given to!)

I think it’s important this time of year, as we get busier, to think about others. Treat them the way YOU want to be treated.  It really does make a difference, and you can’t help feeling good about what you do.  Again, I reiterate, what goes around, comes around!!! It’ll definitely come back to you, some day, some how and that is what human nature is really about.

Enjoy this busy season. Give someone that parking space. Hold their place in line while they look at a last minute item nearby. Let them ahead of you in the checkout, if they only have one or two items. Smile at someone. Donate to a cause, or buy someone a coffee.  You’ll see why this truly IS the accessory of the season.