Blog
A Small Act of Kindness Made Me Smile
~by Janice Raeber, Vice President – LFCS Foundation
On my way in to work today, I decided to splurge and drove through McDonald’s for a vanilla iced coffee. When I reached window #1, I was told that the gentleman ahead of me had paid for my breakfast. I was, for a second or two, stunned. How nice! That had never happened to me before! WOW! I was reminded of the saying ‘Pay It Forward’ and immediately I paid for the person behind me.
As I drove to work, I realized I had a smile on my face…not because I received a free coffee. But because I felt good about things. My outlook was more positive than usual. Someone I didn’t know and who didn’t know me did something NICE. That felt good. That I did something nice in return made me feel even better – better about myself and my community.
There seems to be little more than terror, violence and hatred in the news these days. That’s what we are bombarded with when we watch the news, open our web browser to the days’ headlines or listen to what people in the office are talking about the most. To be reminded that all of the ‘bad’ news is not indicative of all of humanity provided me with a more positive outlook and perspective on my dealings with people throughout the day.
Giving or paying it forward makes me feel good – about myself and those around me – those near to me and those I do not know. My hope is that the person behind me found their day to be a bit brighter because of a simple act of kindness. I know that’s how I felt.
Whether buying someone a coffee, holding the door for someone loaded with packages, or supporting a charity whose work makes life better for someone else, we can all do something nice today. For those who have money they can afford to give, there are always people in need, but even the smallest, free gestures can make a difference.
