On the Kindness of Strangers

I was at the grocery store the other day. Now that I can drive again following ankle surgery, I have newfound freedom to do such things. I have also started to put weight on that leg, using crutches, which means I really can’t use a shopping cart or carry a basket. My solution: I strap my backpack on to the front of me, and fill it up as I go. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

So, back to the grocery store. During the course of my shopping expedition, I dropped a crutch, not once but twice, and several items flopped out of my backpack. Now, I have found it fairly easy to bend down to pick things up, but really I didn’t have to. People came to my rescue. Such kindness.

It is one of the gifts that this accident has given me. It has reminded me of the kindness of strangers.

This trip to the grocery store was not an isolated incident by any means. I have had more doors opened for me then ever before. Just the other day, a man offered to help me open the door to the women’s restroom, and it didn’t even seem weird! I have had people offer to carry things for me. So many people have offered me compassion and wishes of quick healing.

I will never see these people again, and yet I will remember their kindness, their willingness to help a stranger. This in a time when we’re so often shown the negative side of humanity.

I know nothing about these people, nor they of me, except that I needed help. It is simply altruism in action. They expected nothing back, and yet helping others makes us feel good too – win-win!

We so often notice the rudeness of strangers. We complain to others about the inept teller at the bank or the difficult clerk. We ruminate over the guy that cut us off in traffic. I challenge you to notice the kindness instead. And beyond that, consciously make time to be kind to others. It doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering, just small, kind gestures, even a smile to someone who needs it, can make a big difference.

My experiences over the last several weeks give me hope in humanity. I choose kindness.