“Being kind does not have to cost a thing.
Words are free, smiles are free, actions
are free.”. – theodysseyonline.com
This past Friday as I was getting ready for
convention, I had to make a stop and
change roles from adult leader to Girl
Scout leader. I was meeting with my coleader
to go over stuff for our Monday
meeting. As I was leaving Caribou; rushed
because I had other things to finish up, a
woman approached me. At first, I couldn’t
understand her, then she took a
breath and calmed down. I learned she
was driving in from Chicago with her little
girl, having just left an abusive relationship
and was trying to get to Bloomington,
but made a wrong turn and was now
almost out of gas. Did I have any money
to spare?
Money to spare? I don’t work, so any funny
money I get I covet and horde away
(yet I still don’t seem to spend it on me!).
I had money on me for convention, but I
couldn’t whip that out in front of her. I
got nervous, my co leader had bolted to
her car. It was just me…what could I do?
So, I asked her to hold on a minute, and
walked to my car. At least I felt a bit safer
there as I was looking around, it was
10am in the Walgreens parking lot, cars
and people everywhere. She followed, but
never made a move towards my car. I dug
a ten-dollar bill out of my small horde
and walked it back to her. She almost
started crying and gave me a hug…I
thought she wasn’t going to let go!
I started thinking about the…What if’s.
What if that had been me? Would I
have the courage to go up to a complete
stranger and ask for help? I can
barely talk to people I know in public
situations. This small act of kindness
made a difference to
her. I wished her
well and she went
on her way. Our
paths will probably
not pass again.
While my act of
kindness did cost me
ten-dollars, it
doesn’t always have to. Remember to
be kind, the world seems to be lacking
this now days. Share a smile, a kind
word; It needs to start somewhere, and
I’m glad to be part of the kindness
movement!
I hope you have a “kind” day and always
are courageous!
President Carrie