Have you ever done something nice for someone you didn't know well, a small act or gesture of kindness just because you could?
If you've done it I'm going to take a punt and say it felt good; that's how I feel about those little things I do for others and even though it comes from an ethos of giving without the expectation of anything in return, in truth, there's a lot one receives in return when one gives in that way.
Over the weekend I was at a cafe where the poor unfortunate couple next to me had a terrible experience with their meals, you can read about it here, and because I didn't want to witness the train wreck that was their experience I left to go to another cafe and work on my computer a little. I say 'work' but in reality I was looking up a new long range rifle I'm interested in acquiring.
As always I had coffee.
I decided that Earl Grey tea was what I needed and, as always, my tea for one came with cookies for two.
I go to that cafe a lot and always get treated with great respect and courtesy, am known by name and I know the workers' names in return. We chat, catch up on the latest happenings and it's all rather nice, the coffee is good and I feel welcomed. I never sometimes get a free coffee but never ask for it (I prefer to pay my own way) but always get two cookies. (They put a little cookie on the side of every cup of tea, hot chocolate or coffee they serve but two? Nope, apparently that's for the special people only...or so I was told.)
The way I'm treated and am made to feel is why I come back; the coffee is good too, and even though it's one of the more costly places to get coffee around here I keep paying it because the experience they give me.
The two cookies? Well, they're neither here nor there and I don't actually eat them to be honest, too much sugar - I take them home and give them to my girl. What matters is the thought behind it, the small gesture of kindness that the baristas don't actually have to make, but do. I once asked the girl behind the counter why she gives me two cookies instead of one and she said that she likes me, I'm friendly and always happy (even when I'm not) and that a little chat with me makes her day much better...Nice right? I asked if her gesture makes her feel good as well and she said yes...and there it is...the return on investment.
Small acts of kindness are done every day by millions of people and the best ones are those that are not advertised, promoted or boasted about by those doing them. I think it's nice to call them out when they happen to us though - A little shot of positivity in a world that needs it desperately. So, do you have any small acts of kindness others have done for you that you'd like to share?
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
