Random Acts of Kindness
Sometimes, the world can seem like a very dark place: The recent events of the weekend only prove this to us.
However, we can be scared or we can be part of the solution by showing love. Yes, there can be big sweeping gestures, but equally, small acts of random kindness can also be the building blocks to something much greater.
I have been the recipient to a random act of kindness. Back in 2002, my boyfriend (now my husband) were travelling in Australia. We were in a beautiful place called Shark Bay on the Western coast, walking along a coastal path. We stopped, and we got chatting to a woman, who we could tell had the strains of a Yorkshire accent. She told us her story, about how she’d emigrated to Australia and bought her children up there. She loved living in Australia, and had embraced the outdoor life. Her children had travelled Europe, and she completely applauded us travelling, and how brilliant it was to see us over there, also loving Australia.
We said our goodbyes, and returned to our cars.
As we were packing up, she came over to us and suddenly thrust some money into my hand, and said ‘From One Mother to another daughter, use this money to enjoy yourself. Someone did it for my daughter whilst she travelled in Europe, and I want to do it of for you.’ I was completely gobsmacked, I tried to refuse, but she was adamant.
We did use that money for fun: We had a fish and chips (a rare treat on a backpacker’s budget!) and filled our car up so we could travel a little further.
Imagine if we all undertook a simple act of kindness every day? It could be just paying for some one else’s coffee, or even sending some beautiful flowers to that young girl in the office who has just been dumped by her boyfriend to tell her she’s still beautiful.
I read in the news the other day about a mother of a new born, who was trying to breastfeed. She was in a cafe and had just got her meal which was rapidly going cold, so someone came over and cut up her meal for her, so she could eat one handed and feed the baby. You don’t even have to spend any money to be kind.
I would love to know if you’ve ever performed a random act of kindness, or indeed, like myself, you were the recipient of a random act of kindness.
It is truly a wonderful way to make the world a better place.
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