Making a Small Difference: A Random Act of Human Kindness

Perhaps there’s something inspirational about this beautiful moment in time — hopefully memorialized here in print — which might foster more of the same.  Yes, much more of the same.  We so desperately need that.

Were you to contemplate what brings us the most joy, it’s usually the little things in life.

Consider the random acts of a complete stranger.

I’d like to tell you a story of what happened last night.  The incident took place at a local grocery store here in Las Vegas.  Perhaps there’s something inspirational about this beautiful moment in time — hopefully memorialized here in print — which might foster more of the same.  Yes, much more of the same.  We so desperately need that.  Wouldn’t it be nice if one simple act of human kindness were to reverberate with a multitude of similar joyous moments in other cities, states, and countries?

Okay, that’s not so much a question as a statement.

Within us, we each have the power to change and to “make a difference,” however small those differences might seem.  But they are indeed monumental.  Doing a kind thing doesn’t require an investment or personal sacrifice.  It only requires the willingness to leave your comfort zone for a greater purpose.

Here’s the story.

*     *     *

Smith’s grocery store at the corner of Sahara and Durango isn’t exactly the place where you’d expect the genesis of my latest article.  Nor is the vegetable section. But amidst the many rows of cabbages and kumquats and alongside giant bins of potatoes and tomatoes, a 60-second exchange between two total strangers may have made what I alluded to earlier — which is a small difference.

My wife (Marieta) was parsing over the lettuce when an old Asian woman approached the display.  She leaned over the same area where Marieta was having a look.

The old woman was perhaps 75-years-old.  She could have been 80.  Maybe 85.  It looked like she’d lived a long, and hopefully fulfilling life.

What was most striking was the way the old woman was dressed.  She wore a bright white blouse, with long white pants, and a shiny red belt.  She’d recently had her hair done, and wore a tasteful amount of makeup.  This might have just been the simple neighborhood grocery store, but the old woman was determined to look her very best.

Marieta leaned over and whispered something to the old woman.  I could not hear what was said.

I watched them together, these two ladies, talking ever briefly.  Next, the old woman took a step backward and flashed a smile.  From the way she smiled and the radiant look upon her face, one could see this was a genuine smile.  A special smile.  A smile too many of us rarely see or experience ourselves.  Yes indeed, shouldn’t we all be smiling more?  Don’t we need more smiles?

So, how did that smile come about?  What did Marieta do or say that could instantly transform an old woman that none of us knew, into a recipient of joy, and by her own natural reaction, and extension of the gift of a random act of human kindness?

*     *     *

Marieta said a few kind words to a complete stranger.  She told the old woman how beautiful she looked.  She complimented her on the outfit she wore.  Based on her reaction, the old woman was both surprised and flattered.

It seemed obvious that this old woman had not heard those words in quite some time.  Especially from a stranger.  But she needed to hear those words.  She longed for those words.  Those words meant something significant to her.  My guess is, they made her day.

They talked a few seconds more and then softly embraced.  That too, it seemed, was something the old woman was not used to getting.

As we walked away, the woman continued to browse through the lettuce.  Before we rounded the corner, she turned her head.  She looked back towards Marieta.  Perhaps she was longing for just one more look.  One more reaffirmation of goodness.

Marieta smiled again and waved.  The old woman waved back.  She smiled again.

And then, we exited the store and were gone.

Looking back now, I think Marieta’s small act of kindness left a lasting impression.  It made a difference to someone.  It’s why I love Marieta and why she truly is an extraordinary person who makes me better just by being around her.

It takes guts to abandon our inner shell.  It’s not easy to take a risk by approaching someone you don’t know and saying something that you’re not sure how will be received.  But I have written before that true bravery isn’t necessarily manifested on battlefields or by bravado.  Real human bravery is in caregiving, through simple acts, often going unnoticed.  These small things are really the big things.

They can and do make a difference.

TAG: the power of kind words