Life Lessons
A Tale of Two Kindnesses: How Doing Small Acts of Goodness Can Help You
The lessons I learned about being kind.
Lizzy was my best friend long before I realized I was in love with her.
We shared a love of quotes, so one time while she was out of town, I printed 100 of my favorite quotes on small pieces of brightly colored paper and hid them around her home. Every time she found one, she would call or text me and tell me how it brightened her day.
My plan was to make it a lifelong habit, hiding new quotes every time she went away.
Then, much too soon, she was gone. Her mom and I went through most of her belongings together, and we laughed and cried each time we found another tiny scrap of paper.
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Cherished Memories
Lizzy had a small, red wooden chest with her most precious belongings nestled inside.
Opening the box felt like a betrayal, but inside we found a smaller box filled with all the quotes she had found while still alive. Hiding the quotes was a small act of kindness, but it meant the world to her.
Not long after Lizzy died, I was having one of those days where everything felt like it was going wrong. I woke up late, spilled my morning Dr. Pepper all over me, and didn’t see the stain on my pants until after I got to work.
I was in a foul mood by the time I got to my desk.
It didn’t help that my boss decided that today was the day to give me a hard time about everything. She was in a snit, and we were all going to pay for it. By the time lunch rolled around, I was ready to snap.
But then something amazing happened.
A client came in who looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. I asked her if she was okay, and she broke down in tears. I opened my desk and grabbed a box of tissues and placed them on the desk in front of her.
Giving Light to Others
For the next 15 minutes, the frail older woman spilled her woes about raising her grandchild and coping with a fixed income.
“I just don’t know what I’m going to do,” she told me.
I wasn’t making much money at the time, just one dollar over minimum wage, but I opened my wallet and took out the sole $20 and handed it to her.
“I can’t take that,” she objected.
“Please,” I told her. “I can’t do much, but I can help a little. Let me give you a gift.”
She looked at me with gratitude in her eyes, and it completely changed my mood. Suddenly, I wasn’t feeling so bad about my day. In fact, I was feeling pretty good.
My small deed had an immense impact on my client. She was one who came in every month to pay her bill in person, and every month for the next three years she thanked me. Several times she tried to pay me back, but each time I refused, telling her the money was a gift.
It was the best $20 I ever spent.
Small Acts of Kindness Help You, Too
Doing a small act of kindness can have a huge impact on your life — and the lives of those around you.
The next time you’re feeling down, why not try brightening someone else’s day? You might just find that it makes your day a little brighter, too.
If you’re struggling, try reaching out and doing something nice for someone else. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture; just a simple act of kindness can make all the difference.
And who knows? You might even find yourself feeling a little better in the process.
You never know when your time will run out, so make sure you do something kind for someone every day. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture; just a simple “I love you” or “I’m thinking of you” can make all the difference.
How do you add acts of kindness to your life? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Meditate on Kindness
Use these writing prompts to help you think more about acts of kindness.
Journal Prompt: Write about a time when someone did a small act of kindness for you that improved your whole day. How can you do the same for someone else?
Creative Writing Prompt: Your character’s soulmate died 10 years ago. Moving away from the home they shared together, your character finds a letter stuffed in the bottom of a drawer from the person they lost. Write the letter.
Until next time, keep fighting.
Sign up for my FREE Sunday All Things Bipolar Newsletter (off-site link) and I’ll send you a few downloadable gifts to improve your life.
