We often hear about rude people, unhelpful staff members in business, and negative individuals. But I’ve been noticing recently that more often than not people are polite, staff members in businesses I frequent are helpful, and individuals I encounter are positive.
Many people practice random acts of kindness, but Jack and I are often the recipients of acts of kindness that are not random at all. The people who perform these kind acts do them regularly, not randomly. I want to express my appreciation for all the acts of kindness that people do for us.
Here are some recent examples (in no particular order):
- Vicki, the cashier at WalMart, loaded my groceries in a shopping cart rather than in the basket of the scooter I was using, took the groceries to the car, and transferred them from the cart to my car.
- Every time she sees that I have a deposit slip made out, our home helper Betsy volunteers to go to my bank on her way home to make a deposit to save me a trip.
- Peter, a friend who is a plumber came over to help us get a bi-fold door back on track … and brought dinner as well.
- Elizabeth, the secretary at our church, calls us weekly to check up on us.
- Our priest, Father Chip, brings Communion to our home since we aren’t able to attend church regularly.
- A nurse at our doctor’s office, Victoria, brings a chair into her cubby so I can sit while she’s taking Jack’s vital signs.
- Both our physician’s assistant, Carly, and the home health nurse, Eddie, write out prescriptions for us to keep at home to help Jack remember their instructions.
- When my computer was infected with a virus over the weekend, Rainer, our computer tech, came to my office on Saturday afternoon to pick up the computer and take it to his shop to start running scans so I could have it back Monday morning so I could meet a deadline.
- Jan, my associate, checked my email daily while I was recovering from surgery.
- Several people, including my client Shawne, our friend Peter, and fellow parishioners Tracy and Christie, brought meals to us following my surgery.
- My sister Nancy went with me to surgery and stayed with us several nights during my recovery to help, in addition to bringing food and helping us whenever she visits.
- Jack’s brother David stayed with Jack while I was in surgery and helps us whenever we need assistance.
These are just a few examples off the top of my head–I know I have not remembered everything.
My vow is to do more acts of kindness for others and especially to notice and appreciate the acts of kindness others do for us.
Have you experienced or performed random or not-so-random acts of kindness lately?
