This I Believe
I believe in random acts of kindness. The smallest little things can
change someone^Rs life. Someone who is only in a person^Rs life for one
short moment could leave a lasting impact on them. I will never forget a
boy named Bodey that was only in my life for about 10 minutes when I was
about 5 years old. My mom was a teacher and took me to work with her one
day. A few older boys had taken an interest in bullying me, and I was
crying. This was when Bodey came and cheered me up just be asking me to
swing with him, and talking to me. You never know what^Rs going on in a
person^Rs life. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to show them that
they^Rre worth a darn. Everyone knows that smiles are contagious. I know
if I^Rm ever in a crummy mood, and someone just gives me a simple smile
as they walk by, all of the sudden I^Rm smiling too and feeling loads
better. However, so many people avoid even the smallest eye contact with
anyone they don^Rt know. The truth is, it^Rs so easy to feel lonely even
when you^Rre surrounded by people every day. I believe that if people are
more open to contact with others, the world will be much happier. It^Rs
easy to laugh if someone trips and falls, or to watch a delivery man with
his arms full struggle to get through a door, or even to look the other
way, but how hard would it be to help? This even goes for remembering to
be polite and appreciate what people do for you, even if it^Rs their job.
When I was on a 14 hour flight to Japan, the flight attendants were all
working so hard making sure everyone was as happy and comfortable as
possible, but people were being pretty rude to them for no apparent
reason. Then, when one of the women came by me and my mom to ask if we
wanted anything to drink, I simply said ^SMay I please have some water
and some milk?^T. She stopped and smiled at me so big and said ^SYou
know, I^Rve been working all day going up and down these aisles, and you
are the only person to say ^QMay I please^R. You are so nice, Thank you
so much^T and on and on. She was so shocked and impressed at something as
small as me saying ^SMay I please^T. If something that small and simple
as using common manners makes that huge of an impact on someone, then
what does that say about the world? Things like that should be the norm.
The rest of the trip she would walk by and give me treats and talk to me,
and she was so happy. That^Rs why I believe that simple random acts of
kindness are very powerful. It doesn^Rt even take much effort.
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