Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

Mark Twain

*This picture is in no way related to this post

So, I had this ridiculous awesome post about my trip to Disney World all ready to be typed out.  Then something pretty amazing happened today, and, I just have to share.  I spent most of my life being an optimist.  Ya know, glass half full, look at the bright side, always searching for the silver lining kinda girl?  That was me.  I was optimism personified.  Things did not always go my way, however, I always looked for the positive side of things.  I just knew that there was no use being a sour puss.  

Then life happened.  And, little-by-little that optimism faded.  I was left feeling bitter and sarcastic, in the worst kind of way.  It must have been all the disappointment I felt in the human race.  Every single day I witnessed people do horrible things.  Every single day I witnessed people purposely hurting others.  There was no sense of comradery, no trust, no love.  I was hurt.  It pained me to believe that as human beings we could be so cruel to one another.

After what felt like a very long time the cloud dispersed.  The hard-to-break exterior slowly chipped away.  FInally, my former self reappeared.  Today was proof that kindness still exists.  I was shown that the universe is still a little bit sweet.  And, let me tell ya, I was nothing short than overjoyed.

Okay, okay, you are probably thinking get on with the story already!  Fine, fine, here it goes.  After lunch I made a quick stop at CVS.  You know, for lipstick and water, what else.  I was sorta late, sorta hot, and sorta in a major rush (what else is new?).  Where was the cashier?  GONE!  And, standing in front of me was a little old lady with a list and a shopping cart filled to the top with merchandise.  I screamed a little.  Okay, I may have thought some inappropriate things as well, in my head, IN MY HEAD.  I was late, I was in a hurry, and I needed to go.

I was busy thinking of how these things only happen to me when the little old woman turned around to face me.  She smiled this sweet grandma smile and said, "Hello, how many things do you have there young lady?".  I quickly responded I only had the lipstick and water and this sweet grandma said, "Oh, then you must go in front of me, you seem like you need to go, I have all the time in the world".  At first I was hesitant, I mean, here I was completely irritated with this stranger and she was going to let me skip her in line.  I stuffed my face with humble pie.

Nice people are not extinct.  They hang around your local CVS, they smile at you, say nice things to you, and let you skip them in line.  Little old woman, thank you!  It was such a small deed and yet it filled my heart with such incredible happiness.  Happiness to know that not everyone in the world is self-centered, self-absorbed, and selfish.  Happiness to know that she valued my time more than her own.  Happiness to know that I was wrong.  So, so, so very wrong.  There is in fact still good in the world, and ultimately  it always outweighs the bad.

If you are ever presented with the opportunity to do something nice, do it.  Do not hesitate, do not think, just act.  Your small gesture, your kind words, your sweet smile may be just what the other person is searching for.  Make an impact, be positive, fill the universe with love.  One day you may just need a sweet old woman in your life.

xoxo