It doesn't take much to be kind...

As most of you know, I'm a huge promoter of practicing kindness.  In fact, I'm considering becoming a RAKtivist that you can read about here.  My whole life I've been a compassionate person.  Even through the angry years.  Through the negative years I was always still compassionate.  I honestly didn't realize what that meant until much later in life.  I didn't understand why I just didn't get along with certain people no matter how hard I tried and now I know why - they weren't compassionate.  I don't want to delve too much into this right now, I'll get to all of that later.  What I want to point out here, is that it doesn't take much to be kind.  Again, only lately have I really realized how much little acts can make a difference.  Plus doesn't it just make you feel good to do something nice for someone else??  I just wanted to share what happened to me last night and how much it meant to me and every act was just a small simple act.
 
So, last night I took my 97 year old grandmother, in her wheelchair, to the mall (in the middle of Xmas madness!) because she wanted to go Xmas shopping.  I was a little nervous about the crowds.

To every person that stepped out of our way.  To the sweet man who made his entire family (and eyed the crowd) wait while he held the door of the elevator so we could go first.  Then did it again when we exited.  His children were watching and learning how to be kind.  To our waiter at dinner, who when I told him my gramma can't hear he leaned in close to her and patiently spoke louder as he took her order.  To the sweet woman who made her young boy wait as she held the bathroom door open for my grandma and explained to him as gramma shuffled by in her cane "You must be a gentleman and let the nice lady by."  To the nice man that stopped to ask if we needed help when we were doing a little pillow shift in the wheelchair.  To the lovely woman who rang up our purchase at Macy's and chatted with my gramma, telling her she loved her coat and engaging in sincere conversation with us - not just small talk.  To Santa who waved at my gramma when she was saying "Hi Santa!" from outside the gate.  To every person that smiled at me and my grandma as we wheeled by amongst the angry, hurried crowds. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You made that heart swell.

This wasn't much.  This was people just being kind.  People that were compassionate.  I was beaming when I went home that night, knowing that there are more people out there that care than people who don't.  (Side note...most of our "incidents" were people with their nose in their phone not paying attention and when they did notice or almost crash into us they were mostly mortified and apologized).  But that's all it takes people!  All those folks that I mention above did nothing but a small nice gesture and it made a huge impact on me and my gramma.  She commented later about how people were so nice!

This is just one example of so many things that I've seen or experienced.  If you can make someone smile or laugh for just a minute.  That's one minute out of a possible shitty day that you broke them out of that.  Just think  - what if everyone was as kind as the people I encountered last night.

Spread kindness my friends.  No matter how small.  You will be surprised at how much of a difference it can make!