The Kindness of Strangers

After spending a great weekend in the Mountains with friends, James and I stopped in Panera to grab lunch. I made eye contact with a lovely older woman sitting across the restaurant with two older men.  We continued to catch each others eye and smiled as we were eating.  

When James and I were about to leave, she walked over to me and asked if she could tell me something.  I said yes, not sure where this was going.  She told me she had lost her daughter last year, and since that time she was trying to pay more attention to those little nudges that tell you to say something.  She said – I hope this doesn’t sound weird, but I just got the feeling that I should come over and tell you I can see that you are a warm, loving and wonderful person!.  WOW!  I didn’t see that coming!  

Now, if you know me, you know I am a generally happy, confident and optimistic person. Her taking the time to share her thoughts about me as a stranger, really brightened my day!  Imagine if I wasn’t feeling so happy or sure about myself – that one act of kindness could have changed my life! 

While the leader of our country is behaving like a bully on the playground; name-calling, teasing, and threatening, my challenge to you is to show some simple kindness.  Even better, notice a stranger doing something good and then actually say a heartfelt Thank You!