Surprised by Kindness

I was in a conversation recently where the idea of paying for the car behind you in a drive thru came up - and it was a new idea to some people.  Which kind of shocked me!  That specific version of paying it forward or random acts of kindness has even made the news so I was shocked that someone found it to be a new idea.

So it got me thinking - maybe there are other kind gestures people do that others simply hadn't thought of and maybe making a list of some of those things would be a cool thing to blog about.

So I went to my social network and asked people for input.  Tell me your favorite acts of kindness, compassion, charitable care and giving.  I assumed I'd get a list of - pay for the car behind me, leave flowers with a cashier and ask that they give a flower to anyone who seems to need it, leave a dollar on the vending machine, and so on. 

Instead, I got a bigger lesson than that.

People shared stories of seeing a need or having a need and it being met by friends, family, and even strangers.  Stopping to help an emergency situation.  Paying for the car behind you - but from the perspective of a manager of a fast food restaurant and her sharing the joyful impact it has on her employees. A single mom who struggled and had people reach out to offer aid.  Paying for someone's train ride when they realized they didn't have their ticket.

But every message I read had the same theme.

I had a need and someone saw it and filled it.

I saw a need and found a way to fill it.

So I thought I was going to come up with a list of 20 ways to show kindness.

Instead, I got some valuable inspiration on awareness and compassion.

Keep your eyes and heart open.  When you become aware of a need... when you see a place where you can help... when you are aware of an opportunity to make life better for someone (even if it's just buying their lunch or giving them a big smile)...

Do it.  We each have such individual power.  We don't need permission to be compassionate.  And if you do need permission - I'm giving it to you.  Step out of your comfort zone this holiday season.  Challenge yourself.  Don't just toss some money at a problem.  Put your heart out there.

Open your heart.  Open your mind.  Open your eyes.

Need is all around you.

And even the smallest gesture of kindness can have a big impact.