A Random Act of Kindness
A couple of years ago I was on my way to dinner when something happened that would alter the course of my night.
This was during a period of my life when I was a professional pessimist. Work was not fulfilling. I was habitually single. The world was against me — or so it felt like it.
Needless to say, on this evening, I was in a really bad mood.
I parked my car on Vine Street, a couple of blocks from the restaurant. I was consumed in my head. Thoughts about how shitty life was were at full boil.
A couple of steps after I left my car, a woman around my age walked in my direction. I didn’t notice her until she was crossing my path and stuck out her hand.
Without thinking about it, I took what she offered and we continued walking away from each other.
In my hand, was what looked like a business card. In small, black print, on one side, it said:
SMILE. IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY.
I smiled.
Then quickly turned around. She was nowhere to be seen.
I remember thinking how it was such a sweet thing for a stranger to do. Given my mood that evening (and the fact that I have no poker face), she probably spotted misery in my body language and thought I could use an uplifting message.
My dinner that evening was a tiny bit better than it would have been otherwise— thanks to a random act of kindness.
