Random Acts Of Kindness

This morning a couple of things happened that kind of changed my perpsective on life.

As I left my flat to go grocery shopping I noticed that someone had placed a doormat outside my front door. I have no idea where it came from, or who put it there and for a few seconds I thought I might be the butt of some lame practical joke - I guess that was the "cynical me" coming to the fore as it usually does (or did). But after moment it dawned on me that this was no joke - someone had simply noticed I had no doormat and, out of the goodness of their heart , had decided to make a neighbourly gesture and give me the gift of a doormat. That made me think.

So off I went to get my groceries - just a few bits and bobs which came to £5.09 or something. I handed over a tenner and was given £5 in change accompanied by a smile and a wink. Without being prompted and out of kindess the shopkeeper had realised that no-one wants to walk around with 91p change jangling around in their pocket and had taken it upon himself to waive that 9p. That made me think even more.

As I carried my graoceries out of the shop and I felt the crisp autimn sun on my face I felt something like an epiphany. If strangers can make these small gestures and make a difference to someone's life and outlook then I can too. At that moment I resolved to become one of those people - at every opportuntity I would go out of my way to "pass on" this kindness and, hopefully, make a small positive difference to the lives of others.

And then I slid in a big dog turd and my normal simmering bitterness was restored.