Small Kindnesses

“I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walk down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs to let you by. Or how strangers still say ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes, a leftover from the Bubonic plague. ‘Don’t die,’ we are saying. And sometimes, when you spill lemons from your grocery bag, someone else will help you pick them up. Mostly, we don’t want to harm each other.” – Danusha Laméris (read full poem here)

I live in a high-rise downtown, surrounded by tons of other buildings. When I look out my windows, I see lots of other apartments. This week, one of my neighbors posted a sign that read, “Hello neighbors! What is your favorite ice cream flavor?” And from there, a conversation began.

Later that day, I went out on a walk and someone had put masks on two little statues. I stopped for a moment to reflect on the fact that someone took the time out of their day to do this small thing that made me (and others, I’m sure) smile.

In the evening, I sat on my balcony and howled (some cities clap and cheer, others sing, and since we’re in Colorado, we howl) with my neighbors at 8 PM, like we do every night in this moment. Some of us howl for loved ones. Some of us howl to show appreciation for all of the front-line workers. Some of us howl as a reminder that we’re all connected, never alone. And as I started to head back inside, I noticed a building on our block was lit up in the shape of a heart.

From women who are digging out their grandmothers sewing machines to help get masks to everyone in need to neighbors writing positive messages on their sidewalks and driveways to people grocery shopping for those who need it, I’ve seen many acts of small kindnesses. And I believe what Danusha tells us above: mostly we don’t want to harm each other.

What small kindnesses have you seen? Share by leaving a comment (reading this via email? Click “Read in browser” below).

P.S: If you’re in need of some human connection and want to have a deep, meaningful conversation about uplifting topics, we’d love to see you at our next The Way Back virtual gathering. You don’t need to do anything to prepare. Just sign up here.