Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can make a huge difference in one’s life or the lives of others. I’m talking about random acts of kindness and generosity that just happen at the right time or in the right place. It’s easy to overlook them, even take them for granted. It’s impossible to know what may be the difference between life and death for someone – literally.
May is mental health month and I wanted to share a small treasure I discovered on a bike path a few days ago. I walk this path several times a week and other than birds, a few deer and a handful of humans, there isn’t much to see. It’s peaceful. The air is fresh. The flowers and trees are lush. On this day I looked down and noticed this rock in the grass and it was like receiving an unexpected present. How cool that someone would think to do this! I wanted to bring it home as a souvenir but it seemed sacred laying there, undisturbed in the grass. I wondered how many others walked that path and didn’t notice it. I wondered how many people saw it and smiled like me. I wondered if anyone needed to see it because it was just the random act of kindness they needed to make it through that day.
Kindness is contagious. It matters. There is never a bad time to pay it forward. It doesn’t have to be in May or at any special time of year. If you are in a good place, if it’s a good day, take a moment to share just a sliver of it with someone else. It can be a complete stranger. Life is a delicate balance and we are all empowered to leave a little joy in our path. #mentalhealth