A Random Act of Kindness

It is part of human nature – to be having a good day – then out of nowhere, another person can put a damper on it. It doesn’t take much – a nasty look or honk because you didn’t notice the light had changed; the loud sighs when you can’t find that loose change you need to complete a purchase; the person that lets the door slam in your face when it is obvious your hands are full. No, it doesn’t take much to turn an otherwise nice day into one a little less sunny.

I know I can’t change the attitude of those that are intent on being rude and impolite. What I can do is perform a “random act of kindness” every day.

I have done this often and it would surprise you what a “random act of kindness” can do to change another person’s day! So what is a “random act of kindness?”

It can be letting the person in line behind you go ahead of you – even though you are in a hurry yourself. It can be cutting a flower from your garden and giving it to the next total stranger you see. It can be handing a discount coupon that you don’t plan on using to another person to save them a little money. It can simply be a smile and saying, “How are you today?” to the next person with which you make eye contact.

When I have performed my “acts,” I always tell the recipient that they are my “random act of kindness” for the day. Some will be surprised; some will be confused (can’t grasp the concept that a total stranger would do something nice); some will thank you and you know they will be telling someone about the event later in the day; some will look perturbed (annoyed that someone would violate their private space). Regardless of the reaction, I walk away feeling better, knowing I have possibly brightened another human being’s day.

We live in a time when everyone is busy, stressed and more to do than hours permit. As a result, we live in a world where road rage, bad attitudes and rudeness are every day occurrences. I believe all it would take is for every person to perform one (just one) “random act of kindness” every day to make the world a much better place to live!

Try it – you’ll like it!

Dad and the Highway Patrol

My Dad is an avid fisherman. He was always driving his pickup pulling his fishing boat on these trips.

On this trip, Dad fell in line with several trucks and other vehicles - all going over the speed limit. As the convoy neared a highway patrol car sitting beside the road, the speed decreased. Nonetheless, to my Dad's dismay, the highway patrol chose his vehicle to pull over.

Once the formalities were over, the patrolman began writing my Dad a speeding ticket. A bit perturbed, Dad asked the patrolman why he had been pulled over when all of the vehicles in the group had been speeding.

The patrolman looked back at Dad's boat and said, "Sir, I see you are a fisherman."

"Yes sir, I am," my Dad replied.

"When you go fishing, do you always catch them all?" questioned the patrolman.

"No sir, I don't," replied my Dad.

With a smile on his face, the patrolman said, "Neither do I!"