The Power of Small Acts of Kindness

Rebecca Zeines
Jul 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Kindness has a snowball effect. Believe it.

From 16 to 19, I worked at a chain of bakeries. Shortly after starting, I’d read somewhere about the power of a smile. I can’t tell you for sure if this was a fact, but the thought that smiling at a stranger triggered a random act of kindness from that person within an hour of receiving it…well, it spoke to me.

So, for the better part of my time in that crappy job, I’d give my brightest, most sincere smiles to the sometimes grumpy customers walking through the doors of the bakery. They’d be startled, but it’d also be accompanied by a shift in body language. From maybe tired and moody for having to get dressed on a Sunday (almost sacrilege in Geneva), they’d turn into more relaxed and smiling people themselves.

Now, jump to the present and I’m working with kids, mostly between 2 and 5 years old. At that age, they still need to take a nap. It’s scheduled into the school day and we get all the kids ready with a last bathroom run before settling them down.

Some of the kids struggle more with the imposed schedule than others.

But some of these kids? All it takes is to tuck them in. Rather than fight with the more energetic kiddos, I focus first on the ones who just need some attention — some kindness — and mainly, some acknowledgement that they’re being cared for. Afterwards, even the more active and fussy kids are ready for a nap and calm almost instantly when I head towards them to tuck them in.

Kindness to strangers boils down to showing care and empathy.

That’s exactly what these kids seem to crave, too. The speed at which they settle when I walk up to them, get their cot ready, and gently pull the blanket over their tiny bodies before settling down for their nap… it’s impressive.

Be kind to strangers. They might not have received a caring touch since they were children.

Rebecca Zeines

Written by

Copyeditor, Dreamer, Agile Facilitator and all-around joyful misfit

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