Yesterday, at the laundromat a guy was wandering around asking where he could get detergent. He hadn’t been to a laundromat in 40 years. He had an accent from somewhere in the Deep South. I told him I had plenty and I would get mine out of the car. This simple act of sharing my laundry detergent, something that cost me 2 minutes and maybe 5 cents, made us both happy. I felt like a kid who had 2 popsicles and was able to give one to a friend.
I felt proud, as I do whenever I have an opportunity to demonstrate love and kindness, because I am carrying on a legacy of love. My mom was the epitome of loving kindness. She would sometimes bring us to hospitals and nursing homes on holidays, just to visit people who hadn’t had a visitor in awhile. It was a little awkward at first but it felt great to make a difference.
As a young girl, my mom would bring me with her to visit people who were new to the neighborhood. She was a Welcome Wagon lady who brought small samples, coupons and gifts from local vendors to new community members. It was her job, but it was also a vessel through which she spilled love. She would sit and have coffee and visit with them. She would listen to their stories, she would make them laugh, she was their first friend in a new town. She loved it.
I’ve been hearing a lot about the idea in the corporate world regarding brand. What’s your brand? That’s a popular question. People hire “brand experts” now. What if your brand was kindness? What if you were a hope dealer? What if instead of looking for the helpers (though I love that idea) you looked for ways to be the helper? Love is its own reward. 💕
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