Three tiny acts of kindness I've seen or experienced the past two days... [View all]

[NRaleighLiberal]

We all need some hope, don't we? So much awful news - so many of us struggle with the holidays. Often to old geezers like me (well, nearly 57!), it is easy to get cynical and think like everything just gets worse, nothing gets better.

Yesterday I was at the post office - we know what that place can be like any given day, but especially during the crazy holiday gift mailing season. So I was in line at the package weighing/postage dispensing self service machine - maybe a dozen people (far less than inside at the manned counters) - I started chatting to the person in front of me (typical for me) - he was bemoaning that he had to stand in a long line for just one stamp. So the people in front of him had just bought some stamps, and gave him one - he tried to refuse, but they insisted - such a small thing, but it made him - and the stamp donors - and me, as an observer, happy.

I get up to the machine with my four packages - after processing 2 of them, it kicks me off and says it can't complete the third transaction. So I put the postage on two of them and put them in the bin and head for the back of the line - everyone in line insists that I go back and see if I can finish the other two. I wished them all a Merry Christmas - I was happy, they were happy.

Number 3 - I went for a coffee at Starbuck - looked for the paper to read. Older fellow was reading one of the four sections - he was done with 3 and I commented that he had my favorite part (crossword) - he chuckled. I went to a different area of the store with my coffee and papers - read for about 20 min - looked up - the fellow walked around the store looking for me to give me the final section.

Tiny, little things - random acts of kindness. And collectively they made me feel pretty damned good.

Merry Christmas, Happy holidays, all!