“How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.”
George Elliston
Finding creative ways to perform random acts of kindness has proven to be a challenge, but a challenge I eagerly take on each day. Recently, while in a laundry mat in Massachusetts, I was squeezing between a woman folding her clothes and the dryer where my clothes just finished drying. I politely said, “Please, excuse me,” as I walked around her. She responded by mumbling, “I don’t take orders from no one.” It took me a moment to realize what she said, and another moment to realize what she meant. Surely, I wasn’t being rude or barking orders at her to excuse me as I passed by. I worried and stewed while we stood side-by-side folding laundry. She still had another dryer full of wet towels rolling around in the dryer, so she stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. Meanwhile, her dryer stopped. With wet towels still inside, I dropped another couple of quarters into her dryer before I walked out with my basket of clean clothes. As I was leaving, I held the door open for her and suggested she enjoy the rest of her day. I hope and pray that she did.
I rented a Redbox movie the other night to break up my typical evening activity of reading. I thought of my student, Kiley, who had the random act of kindness idea to return the Redbox DVD with a dollar inside and a note that stated something like “Your movie treat is on me.” So, I did. I also thought of Boyd’s idea of handing out homeless care packages. I’ve enjoyed sharing his idea throughout the Northeast. I taught over 100 students this past year, most of whom came up with some pretty amazing ways to show kindness. I hope to continue reviewing their classroom lists of ideas and sharing them when I can.
That said, something special happened to me yesterday while touring Morristown National Historic Site in New Jersey. As I pulled into George Washington’s encampment at Jockey Hollow, it didn’t seem unusual for folks to point at the trailer, smile, or give me the thumbs up. When I parked, a couple made their way over to the trailer and began a familiar conversation. However, our conversation didn’t end with the tour of the trailer. Charles and Clarece are retired residents of Morristown and had just come to the park for a picnic. Charles seemed especially impressed with my tiny Keurig coffee maker: We agreed how important coffee is, as he lifted his Starbucks cup o’ joe. Charles and Clarece have been long-time friends who reconnected after both of their spouses passed away. They’ve been married now for a number of years, but appear to be newlyweds, as they look lovingly and joke kindly with one another. They are both originally from Ohio, and Charles is a retired English teacher. After a conversation that really ended too soon, we shook hands and I walked into the visitor center. After touring that part of the park, I was getting into my car to drive to the other section a few miles away when I noticed a Ziploc bag with three Keurig cups and a note inside – from Charles and Clarece. They offered me their driveway to camp and gave me their address, welcoming me to their home at any time. As I drove out of the parking lot, where they came again honking their horn. I re-parked and Clarece came running over with a piece of “New Jersey apple pie to go along with my coffee.” We visited a bit longer, as I explained my students’ random acts of kindness projects and began to cry as I thanked her for her acts of kindness towards me. We embraced and parted ways. Nonetheless, I believe that our chance encounter will become a lasting friendship. They are welcome in my home in Colorado anytime.
Chasing Verbs 