Kindness

I have often wondered the point of kindness if it is not passed forward. Being kind feels good, it shows you care, it makes the recipient happy as well as feeling valued and respected. Kind people find peace in themselves, they are more tolerant and compassionate, people like to be around them, and most of all it inspires others to be kinder, thereby making the world a better place. But what is the point of kindness if it is not passed on to the next person. Kind people usually do not expect to be repaid for their actions.

 Today I left my house determined to be kinder on the road. Even though I was in a rush to get the children to school I was going to be kind to another who seemed more in need. After all, it was only few days ago when I was running late. It was 5 o'clock already, my train had been delayed at New Street station. I had to pick my toddler from nursery at 5.30pm and my daughter from after school care no later than 5.45pm. I had less than hour to get them both from different locations. It seemed everyone had to be somewhere that evening too. I had waited over 7 minutes to turn into the major road from the car park. With the cars fleeing past I was in a dilemma. Just as I was about to pull down my window hoping someone would see the plea in my face and let me pass, a car stopped, holding up all the others. He signalled with his light for me to pass. I had to look around to be sure. I couldn't have been more grateful. The lights ahead were green too and I got to my kids just at the nick of time. I was thankful to that kind man, he didn't have to, I didn't know him, he was also in a rush but he stopped. That one kind act, changed my already bad day. The effect of that act spiralled down to my children who were happy to see me. It got me thinking about all those mornings when I set out just thinking about how to get to my destination, feeling irritated at the driver who couldn’t wait and got in speedily in my way. Those mornings when I would not let other cars turn in.  Who knows the effect a little kindness on the road would have made on another person’s day.  I have decided from today and every other day, I will be kind on the road, I will set out early, I will let people who need to get past go, I will pay forward the kindness of a handful out there.

Remember, that what goes around comes around! Kindness is contagious, having a knock- on effect and consequently having a bigger impact on our surroundings than we might think.