Yesterday, Today, This Week, Any Day, Everyday---It's All Good!
Did you know that this week, February 15-21, is Random Act of Kindness Week and that yesterday was Random Act of Kindness Day? Well, it's true. At least, it is according to the Random Act of Kindness Foundation. How did I know this? I'm glad you asked.
Someone delivered a lovely arrangement of flowers to the circulation desk at the library where I work yesterday. The card was addressed simply: "To the librarians." The message inside read: "You do a great job! Thank you for all of your hard work. Happy Random Act of Kindness Day!"
We don't know who the flowers came from, but it was very nice to be appreciated. It gave us a lift and put a bright spot in our day knowing that someone cared and took the time to notice what we do and to express their gratitude for it. This was how I was made aware that yesterday was Random Act of Kindness Day.
About an hour after I arrived at work, an interesting thing happened. An elderly couple came up to the desk and told me they needed help. The lady rummaged around in her purse and pulled out a scribbled note. On it was the address for a website. She explained that her grandson lives in Japan and that he had made a video that was posted on Youtube.
Her son had called to tell her about it. She didn't really understand what Youtube was, but her son had told her to go to the library and ask for help in finding it on the computer so she could see and hear her grandson's video. She didn't have a computer at home to use.
However, the sound on the computers at our library is turned off and can only be accessed with headphones or ear buds that the patrons bring in with them. This lady didn't know that she would need to bring headphones with her, and, of course, she hadn't brought any.
This is where it gets interesting. Another couple who looked to be in their forties was waiting in line behind the elderly couple. They overheard the conversation between the elderly lady and myself. After hearing and seeing the disappointment on the grandmother's face when she realized we weren't going to be able to help her on our computers at the library, they offered to let her use their home computer to see and hear the video her grandson had posted. They said they lived just a few blocks away, and if the older couple wanted to follow them home, they would help them find the website to view on their home computer.
The grandmother and grandfather were delighted. At this point, I was wondering if the two couples knew each other previously and had just happened to be at the library at the same time, but the next thing I heard was them exchanging names and shaking hands and smiling all around. The older couple waited patiently while I checked out books to the younger couple. Then the four all left in a group as if they had known each other for years, chatting and making small talk on their way out the door.
I'd be willing to bet that the younger couple did not know it was Random Act Of Kindness Day. They just saw someone with a need that they could fulfill, a wish that they could make come true. They fulfilled that need just because they could and because it made someone else happy. It made me smile to see and hear their generous and selfless offer of kindness. I thought it was a wonderful coincidence that I had just witnessed this little episode in their lives right after being on the receiving end, myself, of a random act of kindness.
Yes, this is Random Act of Kindness Week, so, of course, I encourage you to do something nice for someone just because you can and because it might make a bright spot in someone's day. However, I also think it would be a good idea for us to try to get into the mindset of practicing random acts of kindness every chance that we get, not just during a certain day or week that has been set aside for it.
If you need some inspiration or some ideas on how to go about establishing this habit, please visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website. Yesterday, today, this week, any day, everyday---when it comes to performing a random act of kindness---it's all good!
Someone delivered a lovely arrangement of flowers to the circulation desk at the library where I work yesterday. The card was addressed simply: "To the librarians." The message inside read: "You do a great job! Thank you for all of your hard work. Happy Random Act of Kindness Day!"
We don't know who the flowers came from, but it was very nice to be appreciated. It gave us a lift and put a bright spot in our day knowing that someone cared and took the time to notice what we do and to express their gratitude for it. This was how I was made aware that yesterday was Random Act of Kindness Day.
About an hour after I arrived at work, an interesting thing happened. An elderly couple came up to the desk and told me they needed help. The lady rummaged around in her purse and pulled out a scribbled note. On it was the address for a website. She explained that her grandson lives in Japan and that he had made a video that was posted on Youtube.
Her son had called to tell her about it. She didn't really understand what Youtube was, but her son had told her to go to the library and ask for help in finding it on the computer so she could see and hear her grandson's video. She didn't have a computer at home to use.
However, the sound on the computers at our library is turned off and can only be accessed with headphones or ear buds that the patrons bring in with them. This lady didn't know that she would need to bring headphones with her, and, of course, she hadn't brought any.
This is where it gets interesting. Another couple who looked to be in their forties was waiting in line behind the elderly couple. They overheard the conversation between the elderly lady and myself. After hearing and seeing the disappointment on the grandmother's face when she realized we weren't going to be able to help her on our computers at the library, they offered to let her use their home computer to see and hear the video her grandson had posted. They said they lived just a few blocks away, and if the older couple wanted to follow them home, they would help them find the website to view on their home computer.
The grandmother and grandfather were delighted. At this point, I was wondering if the two couples knew each other previously and had just happened to be at the library at the same time, but the next thing I heard was them exchanging names and shaking hands and smiling all around. The older couple waited patiently while I checked out books to the younger couple. Then the four all left in a group as if they had known each other for years, chatting and making small talk on their way out the door.
I'd be willing to bet that the younger couple did not know it was Random Act Of Kindness Day. They just saw someone with a need that they could fulfill, a wish that they could make come true. They fulfilled that need just because they could and because it made someone else happy. It made me smile to see and hear their generous and selfless offer of kindness. I thought it was a wonderful coincidence that I had just witnessed this little episode in their lives right after being on the receiving end, myself, of a random act of kindness.
Yes, this is Random Act of Kindness Week, so, of course, I encourage you to do something nice for someone just because you can and because it might make a bright spot in someone's day. However, I also think it would be a good idea for us to try to get into the mindset of practicing random acts of kindness every chance that we get, not just during a certain day or week that has been set aside for it.
If you need some inspiration or some ideas on how to go about establishing this habit, please visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website. Yesterday, today, this week, any day, everyday---when it comes to performing a random act of kindness---it's all good!
"Goodness is the only investment which never fails."
~Henry David Thoreau~
