Kindness

Ever-present hustle and bustle, honking, fast talking...it's all part of life in a big city. The first year I moved here heartburn became my constant companion. I needed to wear a sign, "Careful...I'm slow."

Sadly, I have adapted. I have come to expect people to brush past without a nod or a look. People are in a rush, and I know to get out of the way. Even your friends don't have time for small talk. That's what makes last Thursday so special...

The Chamber of Commerce sponsors a series called Leaders In Action. I am on the committee, so I had arrived at 6:45 am to set up. We had discussed the fact that snow was on its way. For a girl from Louisiana, the winter here is a killer. Everyone knows I'm from the south by the way I talk, so it's always a subject of conversation.

The speaker was kind of a bust, unfortunately. Since this is a kind of high dollar event, we were discussing how to handle possible complaints as we cleaned up. In a city full of abrupt and sometimes rude people, we knew what was coming.

But then something wonderful happened. I walked out to my car to find someone had brushed the snow from my windshield and the driver's side windows. Just like that, my day, which had been so normal (and a little bit boring from the speaker) became memorable in a great way.

I can make a difference for someone in little, seemingly inconsequential ways...and I'm going to try...everyday! Think what a difference it would make if we all did it to together.