I was on a plane on my way to Dallas for our 2014 Planning Session recently and I decided to pick up the airline magazine for a quick peek before getting down to business. The magazine had asked readers the month before to share their answers to the question, “what’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?” I LOVE articles like this. I love thinking about the nice that exists in the world and using these ideas to help me grow both personally and professionally. My favorite response was from a couple who had been evacuating Houston during Hurricane Katrina. He and his family stopped at a coffee shop during their exhausting drive only to find it closed. They sat in the lot bemoaning their bad luck when the owner came out asked what he could get for them. When he came back, he gave them coffees for the adults and sodas and pastries for the kids. He wouldn’t even hear of taking a penny from the family. He wished them safe travels and went back inside the store. The writer said he and his wife sat in the car and cried for 20 minutes. Who would have thought such a small gesture could make such a big difference in the family’s day?
My personal ‘kind stranger’ story comes from when I was about 18 and newly living out on my own. I was poorer than poor and only had about $4.00 to put gas in my car to get home one night. I carefully pumped down to the penny when a young guy at a nearby pump called out, “put $5 in there, I’ll give you the dollar.” I hesitated for a moment but then went ahead and did as he said. Afterwards, he came over to me, pulled $10 out of his pocket, handed it to me, and wished me a good night. I stood there stunned for a moment before adding the additional gas, smiling the whole time. Such a small thing for someone to do, but I needed it and his kindness has stayed with me all these years.
These days it’s so easy to focus on the negative, and to work so hard keeping our heads above water that we forget about all the ‘nice’ that exists in the world. I would like to ask you, after you read this and before you get back down to business of planning your year, to take a moment to reflect on the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you. We would love for you to share that with us on the blog or on Facebook and start the New Year off with a little kindness.
And while you’re at it, maybe do something nice for someone today. Imagine the difference a few thousand of us can make if we resolve to do something nice today. Or something nice every day. Now that’s a resolution every bit worth keeping.
