Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Every year on February 17th, we celebrate the idea that small acts of kindness can make a difference in others’ lives. And I have an endearing story that’s perfect for today.
On a picturesque fall day last October, I took my friends, Antje and Frank, to Liberty Island to view Manhattan from a different perspective. After a delightful afternoon walking the boardwalk, we were heading back to catch the ferry when I noticed an older gentleman sitting on an enormous Harley Davidson motorcycle.
As Mila spent her last minutes on the grass joyfully prancing around, we slowly walked his way as he was parked midway between us and the ferry stop. Passing him, we smiled and said hello, feeling extra friendly after a relaxing day in the autumn sun. Shortly after we walked by, he called out, “Hey, can you come over here for a second?” I turned back, looking around, to see who he was talking to. I realized it was us.
I headed back to the stranger–my courage bolstered having Mila at my side. From a distance, I asked him, “Can I help you with something?” That’s when I noticed he held a single red rose in his hand. “I wanted to give you this,” he replied, extending the rose to me. Surprised, I asked, “Me? Why?”
“I’ve been dating a woman online for months. Today I was finally supposed to meet her. She stood me up. I thought at least maybe I could make your day a little nicer even though mine wasn’t.”
Wow.
I happily accepted the rose, thanking him and babbling something about how she had no idea what she was missing out on. As I walked away, I considered the impact of this encounter. Yes, he made my day by giving me a rose. And, at the same time, he deflated his own disappointment by reaching out instead of turning inwards. An act of kindness for someone else in his own low moment yielded positivity for both of us.
The last time I wrote about the RAK holiday, I quoted Gandhi. He said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” When I chose this quote last time, I was considering the small acts we can do to impact others. However, after the rose encounter, this has a whole new layer to me. Be gentle. We can choose compassion for others and for ourselves through kindness. That will shake the world.
2 Comments
Love this thought. It’s so true and enriching
It was so fun to share the moment with you and Frank!