Today, I saw an amazing thing. It was not a shooting star or Donald Trump stepping down from the candidacy, though I am still hopeful. I witnessed the power of kindness. As I stood in Faneuil Hall of Boston, MA, I was surrounded by St. Patty’s Day enthusiasts. With a live band just in front of me, I noticed an elderly woman with cane in hand, slowly navigating over the cobblestones to get a better view.
As she stood alone, a few other girls that were just beside me also took notice. In a wave of excitement and after some slight hesitation, the girls shuffled over and invited her to dance. As her face brightened, the woman agreed and huddled close to the group.
When the girls returned to their previous place, another group of people entered the square with great excitement. They too approached the elderly woman and offered to dance. With arms interlocked, the woman and a young man began to spin in circles, laughing and jumping to the music. Watching the elderly woman twirl around, many others stopped, captivated by her spirit. In a split second, dozens of people rushed to the stage, surrounding the woman, with hands in the air and legs performing the old Irish jig. I, too, joined in, and as I neared the women, I could see tears rolling down her cheeks and her unwavering smile.
As the band continued to play, the people continued to dance. It seemed as if the fun would never end. Asking for a picture to capture the memory, the girls huddled around the woman. Standing behind the camera, I managed to hear Gabriella, one of the girls, ask the elderly woman if she was Irish. In a quick response, the woman replied “no,” and they both began to dance and laugh together.
With the music playing louder and more people entering the square, it quickly began to rain, and everyone dashed for cover. Everyone did except the old woman. She stayed on the cobble ground, looking up into the sky and listening to the music. With a pep in her step and a smile from ear to ear, it was clear that nothing could bring her down. She had seen the beauty in others, and we saw the beauty in her.
It was the smile of a cheerful old woman and the courage of a few girls that initiated the energy of the surrounding crowd. It was the offering of a dance and an enthusiastic band that drew strangers together. It was a small act of kindness that brought out the joy in everyone.
