Random acts of kindness...
I highly recommend performing random acts of kindness. Do something that is unexpected. It might make a lasting impression on someone.
My first miscarriage happened in November of last year. As I've mentioned in previous posts, it was a missed miscarriage that was revealed at my first prenatal appointment. I was so devastated for weeks afterwards. I live in a small town where I didn't really know anyone, except for the regular passing on the street, or saying hello at the gym. But for a few weeks after my miscarriage, I didn't do those normal things. I stayed inside and cried.
After a while, I decided that it was time to get back to my routines. I got my courage up, and headed out to the gym one morning. I walked in feeling very insecure, trying to hide in my headphones. One of the trainers said hello and struck up a conversation. I started crying and told her what happened. Nobody else said anything to me, and I cried my way through a workout. I felt terrible.
I decided once I got back home that I'd take out my sadness and frustration on my powder room. I had bought some paint, and figured it would be good therapy. So I was dressed in rags, essentially, and covered head-to-toe when the doorbell rang later that day. Oh, and I hadn't stopped crying since I left the gym, so my face was a mess.
To my surprise, when I answered the door, standing there was a woman from the gym. She was someone that I said hello to when I climbed on the treadmill next to her, but I didn't even know her well enough to know her name. I guess that she knew me since I was the new girl in town. Anyway, she was standing there with a card and a basket full of flowers. She said that she knew that I wasn't from around here and probably didn't have any family or friends in the neighborhood, and she wanted to let me know that someone was thinking about me.
I have never been so touched. Today, Kelly is a good friend of mine. She's never experienced pregnancy loss, but she knew that I was hurting and extended her hand. And with that one gesture, my life changed.
I hope to be able to do that for someone else somehow. I just have to look for the right time, and think with my heart.
What random acts of kindness have you experienced??
posted by Christine at 9/01/2004 03:05:00 PM
6 Comments:
Hi Christine. I've not commented here before but I've been reading your blog for a while now and I hope you don't mind. I've received two acts of kindness in the last 3 months that I thought I would tell you about.
The first one happened at the end of last May. A little history on me is that I married my dad (NOT literally of course - lol, just a man exactly like him with the same birth date and everything). Well my dad passed away two years ago so of course his birthday is hard. The week before my MIL stopped by unexpectedly (which I would love anyway, I have the best in-laws) but she had a beautiful bouquet of flowers in her arms for me. She said she knew how hard the week would be for me and wanted me to know she was thinking of me. I bawled like a baby.
Monday was the 2 year anniversary of my father's passing. Last Friday I got home from work and there was a gift bag from Bath & Body Works in my living room. When I asked my DH what it was he said my SIL had brought it over for me. She had written a little note saying that she was thinking of me, knew how hard Monday would be, and that she wanted me to know how much she cares. I love my SIL so very much but something like that was so unexpected. She didn't do it because she had to or it was a birthday but just because she's a special person that does wonderful, special things like that.
They're the people that have helped teach me the things I should be doing too.
Damn it, I'm so emotional today that this post made me cry. That's such a nice story, Christine. Thanks for sharing it. Hope you're doing well my dear!!
Christine,
This post was beautiful and as like Crista I am having an emotional day, it was nice to see something so positive and lovely. As was the first commenter's comment. I can't think of any random acts of kindness (certainly I've commited a few acts of kindness, just not random ones) --so I think I'm going to look to make that a goal.
Thanks for giving me a reason to look beyond myself. =)
Brandy--thank you for sharing your stories. I'm sorry for the loss of your father. I'm sure that must have been and continue to be so difficult. It sounds like you married into a wonderful family, though.
It's great to finally *meet* you, too! :D
Crista & Kether--{{{Hugs}}} I hope that you are each feeling better today. I was also a little emotional yesterday (Ok, when aren't I?), and I think that's why I needed to write a positive post.
Mia--It was a wonderful and completely unexpected way to make a good friend. You never know how you're actions are going to touch someone's life, and Kelly sure touched mine. GL on the job interview!! {{Hugs}}
Christine - Thank you for sharing that wonderful story. I understand what you went through to an extent. Even though my family lives close by, most of them avoided me like the plague after my m/c in July. I still haven't heard from some of them. I was alone with my grief most of the time. I was so touched when one of my coworkers showed up one day with flowers and a handmade card from the ladies in my office. No one else had sent anything over. It showed that they really cared.
And since you asked, I live in Torrington, CT, up in the Northwest Corner. Hope your move to PA goes smoothly! It's too bad you're leaving our little state...taxes are high, but it's a nice place to live.
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