I’m Trying to get you Addicted! - What Kindness can Do

I was moved to write about this today. I have been listening to a book (yes, listening, not reading), Theo of Golden, and in chapter 35 I realized it is about the kindness of a stranger and how such gestures change people. Of course, in the real world, only a few might be so kind, but my guess is that their generous spirit changes the people they interact with.

It made me think about people in general, and what I call the “Walmart Mentality,” where people who come and go from the store, or shop within, seem generally numb to the faces of the people they encounter. We’re all invisible, and the only feeling I get from almost everyone whose paths I cross is that I’m in their way.

It’s truly sad how rude and entitled we’ve all become. If you’ve ever read or listened to this book, it's such a breath of fresh air. It is how I think; however, I also struggle to follow through on being kind and generous of spirit. It makes me ashamed. Although I’m not one to lecture about it, I do think the FEEL of the world we live in has changed remarkably since I was young. It’s changed exponentially since COVID, but I still scratch my head trying to figure out why. Why do we struggle to share kindness?

I remember about ten years ago (I’m guessing) when the “Pay it forward” Idea was new. It was exciting to hear about the little kindnesses that someone from the car in front would pay for a cup of coffee or a Happy Meal for the car behind. They were invisible acts of kindness and generosity. You can’t tell me that those stories didn’t touch your heart.

In Theo of Golden, Theo, the main character, finds ways to give gifts to almost everyone he meets on the Promenade, people many look past. An artist who creates beautiful portraits of customers in a coffee shop, a street musician, and a homeless woman- all of them subjects of his generosity. By taking the time to sit with each of them, Theo offered them their portraits as a gift; he took a moment to learn their stories and see the life the artist put in their eyes. Theo learned that each of them had complicated lives, but LIVES. They’re not people to be forgotten or looked down upon. They’re people, like you and me. They’ve just faced other hurdles that have been much harder to overcome. Some obstacles are still there. It is no different than the rest of us. Theo had unlimited funds. Many of us struggle to make our money last from one paycheck to the next. This may be a roadblock, but almost all of us can find a couple bucks to give to someone else. If not money, then kindness.

I also think about each of us who needs a pick-me-up, how we can find joy as we slog through our daily lives. I can only tell you that taking only one minute a day to focus on something you’re grateful for might change your life. I’ve used this exercise (when I seem to spend so much time on self-pity), and it helps reduce the stress. Small things. My grass is so green, the dishes are all clean, grateful to be able to afford toothpaste. All these small things help to put your self-pity in perspective.

I wish each person who reads this blog a moment of clarity, a moment when you can reach out to someone you love or once loved. Reach out to someone who is down on their luck; pay it forward. Be a real human being. I know a lot of people who would likely look down on someone on the street corner asking for handouts, but I also know each person you encounter has a story. They’re human; they have feelings. Some have chosen to live outside the norm because of disabilities or discomfort among those who ostracize them. Others have no choice. They’re not there by choice. Imagine for a minute what it would be like to be in their shoes. Then imagine what one simple act of kindness would do for you.

This world has become so ugly, but each of us has the power to make it just a little less ugly. So, what do you say? Do you think you might reach out and do some small, kind thing for someone?