How a surprise act of kindness by a stranger inspired me to pass on the joy and give others the opportunity to enjoy a random act of generosity.

The most amazing thing happened to me today.

Yesterday, after a series of unfortunate events, I found myself desperately in need of an internet router. I found one on Craigslist for $20 and arranged to meet the man today at noon at a nearby coffee shop.

He was a little late, but not enough to be inconsiderate. He had warm eyes and an easy walk. He handed me the router in a cloth bag and, as I reached into my pocket to get the $20 bill, he said, “It’s okay. It’s yours.”

Then, he just smiled, turned around, got in his car, and left. Just like that!

He gave no reason, no explanation, no expectation of something in return.

It was just pure kindness.

I stood there for some time, staring after the empty space left by his car.

I felt confused, then grateful, then inspired.

If he could perform such a random act of kindness to a complete stranger, why couldn’t I? More importantly, why wouldn’t I?

Why wouldn’t I take his gesture of love as an invitation to spread that love?

What would happen if, instead of just soaking up the nice feelings of receiving, I decided to maximize those feelings by giving to someone else? After all, doesn’t love grow bigger when it’s shared?

So, now, I’m feeling generous, I’ve got this $20 that I was going to spend anyway, and I want to pass this man’s act of kindness onto you.

I’ve purchased an Amazon gift card with that $20 and I’m drawing for a winner. You can enter here or on the Facebook post that brought you here. Here are the two simple steps to enter:

1. Do something kind for someone
2. Tell us your story in the comments below

Thank you everyone for your stories! Entries are now CLOSED! The lucky winner was: Reba Linker. Here was her story:

I don’t expect to win any prizes for this, but thought I’d share my humble tale, anyway. Today I just made a point of being extra kind to my dear hubby who works so hard and cares so much. Ok, ok, sometimes I don’t always see it that way – and we are both way, way tired after the birth of our new beautiful but colic-y daughter – so it felt really, really great to make a point of seeing, and speaking, all the good he does. A kind word is a true gift, maybe especially for the speaker! Love to you all.
Reba Linker

I hope that, even though this contest is now over, this post, the stories in the comments, including Reba’s story, inspire you to share the love that is in your heart, to be kind, and to make someone’s life a little more joyful today.

Comments

12 thoughts on “Kindness Always Pays Off

  1. Finished work at a very late hour and was very hungry so I stopped by a convenience store. There was this greasy old lady who came in the store as well and was just looking around until a security guard escorted her out because she was just begging for food from people in there. Not aure what came over me but when I stepped outside of the convenience store I suddenly reached out to that old lady and gave her my drink and my sandwich. Thought she needed it more than I did and so I eventually went home hungry but at least I felt good about what I did.

  2. I was a generosity machine this weekend, and it felt so good. Listened to a woman tell me about her life. Bought my daughter groceries, fed her, listened to her, took her to the movies. Celebrated the birthday of two friends with small gifts and big love.

    Gave of my time, treasure and talents.

    Nothing I’d rather do. Ever.

    Thanks for sharing your story!

    xoxox
    Sue

    1. That is so beautiful. I love that you are taking joy in giving. Imagine a world with more people like you Sue! Thank you for stopping by and good luck 🙂

  3. KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS!

    I totally loved your story about the kind man giving you the router that was advertised for $20. It certainly was a gift for me to read this as I struggle with my financial situation and letting go of all thoughts of ‘lack’ in my own mind. There is absolutely no lack in LOVE, only in my mind! I love to write inspirational messages and blogs and when I saw your competition I wanted to join in for the JOY of writing. I read the conditions……..and saw that it involved doing something kind for someone. It seemed contrived to me, because I live my life guided by the voice of LOVE within me moment to moment. So I simply let go of the idea and went about my day.

    For sometime now I have been struggling with a frozen shoulder and have been treated by several different complementary health practitioners. This has challenged me as nothing seemed to resolve the pain and it was costing me a lot financially that was dipping into my dwindling nest egg. I headed off for a therapeutic massage session to my beautiful practitioner who is so very generous offering me her services at a very low price and giving me extra time. Yet it’s her LOVE that is so beautiful and my tears flowed as I let go of so much emotional pain as I stood in her therapy room yesterday morning. Then I turned and saw that she had put together some special pillows on her table to accommodate a physical restriction I have in my abdomen which is the size of a 6 month pregnancy and I began to laugh and laugh as I saw that I am ‘pregnant with possibilities’. Whilst receiving my treatment I heard the voice of LOVE within me direct me to give her an extra $20! Hmmmmm, that was a big ask with my current financial challenges, but the inner voice was insistent telling me to TRUST that all my needs would be taken care of. So I extended her an extra $20 and she was resistant, but I insisted because in my Heart I know that when I follow my inner voice it is always perfect. In fact I ‘know’ that she is me – the one who struggles to receive the abundance of LOVE appearing in form.

    When I arrived home I went to my letterbox and opened a letter from my insurance company to discover an unexpected cheque – a refund of $27 for a credit for some reason I do not even understand! The letter said all I needed to do was deposit it into my bank account. I laughed as I saw the MIRACLE of LOVE arrive in this form. It was such an amazing miracle! That beautiful kind man who shared his generosity with you Vironika, would have no idea what a miracle he performed and will never know how far that might extend. I feel so blessed and inspired to trust the voice of LOVE at a much deeper level and that is the real miracle.

    Thank you

    Eileen

    1. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story, Eileen. I will send this post to the man who extended this kindness towards me. I think this is such an important part of the cycle – not only paying it forward, but also paying gratitude back. If you win, I know this certificate is in great hands!

  4. I don’t expect to win any prizes for this, but thought I’d share my humble tale, anyway. Today I just made a point of being extra kind to my dear hubby who works so hard and cares so much. Ok, ok, sometimes I don’t always see it that way – and we are both way, way tired after the birth of our new beautiful but colic-y daughter – so it felt really, really great to make a point of seeing, and speaking, all the good he does. A kind word is a true gift, maybe especially for the speaker! Love to you all.

    1. What a beautiful, simple, and poignant act of kindness, Reba. This is such an important reminder for us all – appreciating those around us is an ever flowing river of opportunity. We all habituate and forget about how magical the familiar is …remembering is a special kind of magic. It’s free, it’s amazing, it’s real, and it’s always available. Lots of love to you too!

  5. My story is how the universe intervened for me and helped me to slow down and appreciate the people around. I live in NJ, there are a lot of people.

    I was running late, driving the turnpike and I really had to use the bathroom. Stopped at a rest area and parked right near a bus that was full of elderly people. I thought to myself, “I’ve got to get ahead of these folks cause they will really slow me down.” I went around the front of the bus, they all went around the back. I’d done it, I beat them.

    Then a completely unrelated man asked me for help with the door because he had back problems. I agreed without hesitation and then continued to hold the door open for all the folks from the bus.

    I can honestly say I felt joy at that moment and a connection to those people I would have otherwise missed.

    It really made me smile.

  6. I practice random acts of kindness regularly. Some of the things I’ve done but not limited to are: paying for cars behind me at a drive thru Starbucks coffee shop; donating to charity; giving cookies; giving flowers; sharing food. It really lifts your spirits and if any of you suffer from depression, try doing a random act of kindness and see how long that natural high lasts.

    1. Thank you for sharing, Sheri! I agree with you completely. I’ve found, since the writing of this post, that doing something kind and not telling anyone is absolutely amazing. Somehow, getting approval from others mixed in with that pure natural high actually taints it. And doing nice things for bugs. That feels very good too! Thanks again for reading.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *