Thursday Seeds | The Currency of Kindness

There are many ways that one can give to the kindness factors. It is a mindset. Perhaps in your travels in the days and weeks, you come across those unfortunate enough to use panhandling as a last resort. (Some would call it the resort for those that exploit) I would call it not smart for personal security. I can’t really be that kind. I have to keep my own personal safety.

I can donate to the local churches that support the homeless, I can donate to the organizations that are affiliated with the Food bank to ensure those that really need the help on a grocery bill get it. I can do those things and not really worry about my safety. They also give credence to the data collections that would help devise a system that could support longer term solutions for those on the streets. There are so many that don’t care.

I’ve walked the streets at Venice beach where it is tent after tent. (What was I saying about security? It’s necessary to see folks. And while it was in the daytime, it wasn’t with purposeful intent as it should have been.) I’ve gone to the Atlanta Public Library downtown in the winter time when there are few places with heat that folks can congregate.

Tarps and tents under bridges. Those without a job. When something happens to you that you feel grateful for, that’s the time to do something. It’s time to do something that could help others. And while some are able to devote a lot of time and energy toward the homeless, this gal is pretty full up keeping a head above water some days.

Does it have to be that stark? Maybe not. Maybe the currency in which you pay is for those that are in line with you at the grocery store. A neighbor in line without their wallet, headed out to go get it when a stranger behind them just pays the bill. These things are huge to some families. Especially now that there are stresses of deportation and having just enough to pay for some groceries when the prices all rise.

A guy on the Decatur square just got new shampoo and conditioner. He wanted to see if I would buy them from him. While I declined, I was able to share a part of my story with him. The part about where I quit the man, quit the drink, and made a serious change in my life. He seemed receptive to that story. It’s a seed. Each thing that we do, we can show others something new. And if we are humble enough, they can show us a thing or two also.

Let someone in line while you are in traffic tomorrow. Make a thing of it. Stay in the present moment while you do it and then check and see how you feel afterward. Suddenly that place you are rushing to can wait a moment. In fact, sometimes it works out where a few moments really won’t make that much of a difference.

Kindness sometimes is just a smile when someone needs it. They may not even realize they do until they see you. In all the carrying on of the events in the news. This is a radical thing that we can do, be kind. It is infectious.