A Kind Day

     Today was one of those days where nothing exceptional happened but I tried to do a variety of small, kind things throughout the day.  In some respects, that's really what this project is all about -- cultivating a mindset of kindness so that it permeates everything that I do.  In any event, let me share 4 simple things that I did intentionally.

     As I got out of my car at Wegmans this morning (I'm really not there every day!), I noticed an older woman at her car struggling with some heavier grocery bags and trying to load them into her car.  Approaching her cheerfully, I asked if I could offer some help.  She accepted and I helped her put the rest of her bags into the car and then returned the cart for her.

     This afternoon as I was coming home, I passed a school that must have just completed some type of sporting event or other function.  There were lots of cars trying to exit their parking lot.  Knowing how hard it can sometimes be to get out of a lot, I purposely stopped and allowed 3 or 4 cars to ease out onto the road.

    I attended a meeting tonight where I had volunteered to talk about the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program.  This is the program through which I've driven patients to their doctors' appointments.  More drivers are always needed so it's important to let people know the program exists and how they can volunteer to help.  I think we may have recruited at least one new person tonight.

     On my way home from that meeting, I stopped at the new Frozen Yogurt place on our Main Street to surprise my wife with a cup of her favorite flavor yogurt.  Our usual place no longer carriers her flavor, so this was a real treat.  (Of course, I got myself some, too.  No reason I can't be nice to myself!).

     None of the things I did was earth-shattering.  But here's the thing I'm really beginning to notice:  When I go through my day just trying to spread kindness wherever I am, even in the smallest of ways, the day seems to work that much better and I feel that much happier.  I think that by forcing myself to do something kind every day (by virtue of this project), I'm creating a habit, and by creating a habit, I'm changing both how I "show up" in the world, as well as how the world "shows up" for me.  Interesting to contemplate. . .