Sometimes we take the world and others around us for granted. We go through life thinking about ourselves and how to make life better for us. There are 7.125 billion people in this world, and most of the time we only think of ourselves. But showing kindness to one person can create a chain reaction that spreads all throughout a community or even the world. I am fortunate to have experienced many acts of kindness, but there is one that sticks in my brain that inspires me to be a better person.
My mom and I went to do our normal grocery shopping one day when I was surprised by an older lady I had never seen before walking up to me. She looked at me, said something close to “Have a good day, God bless, and good luck with your future endeavors,” before handing me a five-dollar bill. I thought that it was a little weird, but more importantly, I knew I didn’t do anything to deserve the money so I said that I couldn’t accept it. She insisted that I take the money, so I took it, repeating thank you several times. Most people think that I may be weird because I didn’t take the money right away, or that I may be overreacting because it was only five dollars, but it was the kindness and selfless nature of her actions that made me speechless. She left me so baffled, but also so incredibly inspired. There are not many people today that really care to be kind to others, and she was so kind and generous.
I searched for her a few minutes later to say thank you once more. While giving her a hug, I almost started crying. I told her that I was a senior in high school saving up for college and how much of a difference that just five dollars or a compassionate act can make. She told me that she had been blessed with great news so she decided to pass her happiness on by doing a random act of kindness. Her son’s chemotherapy had worked and his cancer was gone. He had fought it for several years and finally beat it. Hearing her speak about the struggle and how hard it had been on both her son and herself, I couldn’t believe how strong of a woman she was. Her joy paired with her kind soul made her happiness spread to random people.
During our ten-minute conversation, I began to realize that her kindness made me feel special. Sometimes I don’t think about all the little things. I don’t take the time to think about how I can make someone else’s day better. Her small act of kindness made believe that there are more important things than how much money I’m going to make in my future or how many friends I have. I realized that my priorities and my views of society were a little misguided. I needed to focus more on the other people in this world, to help all of those that need it, whether it's a place in need in a foreign country or a women’s shelter in town. A single spark of kindness can ignite the flame inside others and they can help keep that fire alive by spreading it to the others around them.
Just giving someone five dollars when they are struggling can make a big difference. For me it wasn’t about the money; it was the way she made me feel. I know that I don’t always do the best for others and that maybe I’m not as active in helping others as I should be, but I will always remember the kindness that woman had for a random girl like me. I aspire to be like that woman in all of my future endeavors. I will spread kindness wherever I go and vow to make at least one person smile a day. I only hope that my efforts so far are improving and that someday I will inspire another person as she inspired me.
