Random Acts of Kindness

I was irritated by the apparent lack of courtesy in the world when I wrote yesterday's post, but I was reminded today that there are innumerable random acts of kindness going on all around me. I was stuck in horrendous traffic on North Avenue this afternoon when I saw a middle-aged city employee sweeping up garbage that had collected in the gutters. For those who don't live here, today was an unusually hot day for Chicago- my car thermometer insisted it was 106, but it was probably in the mid-nineties. So this man was working hard when I saw a young guy, probably in his early-twenties, walk up and offer him a cold bottle of water he had just bought at a market on the corner. It was such a little thing, but I felt so happy and touched seeing it. I started wondering if I'd ever do that- notice someone working hard at a hot job and buy them a drink. I usually walk right by- I'm polite and try to smile or say hello, but I can't say I've taken the extra steps of kindness that the passerby did.

Seeing that little scene reminded me of the commercial where people see others doing small acts of kindness for a stranger and then passing it on. I'm now determined to pass on a few acts myself.