A good friend of mine was telling me a story at lunch the other day. With a broad smile he told of the time he was on a toll road somewhere and when he got up to the toll booth the person inside said “Go ahead, the guy in the car ahead of you paid your toll.” My friend’s face lit up as he told the tale of the good samaritan. A total stranger, no one he knew or would ever know did something that could change the world as we know it. My friend said at the next toll he paid for the person behind him. And who knows what chain of gratitude followed. Not only at the toll booth, but in all walks of life for years to come. My friend said it changed his life a little that day. And I think it really did. We can’t underestimate a random act of kindness. Maybe because we are so surprised at someone’s good deeds in an age of “me first” madness. But the truth is, human beings like to do things for people. There really is something to the “Do unto others” mantra. Some call it the Santa syndrome. And maybe there is something a bit selfish in performing random acts of kindness. I know it really makes me feel good to do something for someone … even if they don’t know it was me. I am a big believer in Karma. My daughter and I were just talking about the energy you put out is the energy you get back. Truer words were never spoken. In these tough times we need to take care of each other. We have come to realize that the days of government or corporations taking care of people is on shaky ground at best. There are no 50-year gold watches or New Deals we can count on. So let’s count on each other. And don’t worry about the size of the gesture. Paying a 50 cent toll for someone has created a chain of good will that could be growing as we speak. Random acts of kindness are not political, racial, sexist, or judgmental in any way. In this new year, perhaps we should adopt a new strategy for lifting ourselves up and out of this funk we may feel. Do something for someone without a second thought. Something spontaneous, something random, something that will warm your heart and create a chain of gratitude that could link us all together in ways we never thought possible!
Happy New Year, J.B. Lester; Publisher