Yesterday was my regular day to post…but sometimes I am not moved to write, sometimes I am called to wait. And I am always glad when I listen. This week was one of those.
This morning, a pickleball friend of mine from the Philadelphia area posted a story that is too good not to share. This is Shiva’s sharable post…
Only in India! I was sitting and minding my own business when an elderly lady sitting next to me engaged in a conversation. She asked me where I live, what I do and how much l earn :) Then she asked me to get an auto via Uber. I did so. Then when the auto came she asked me to hold her hand and take her to the auto. Then with a big smile said
"Thank You.”
There is a different sense of satisfaction just helping a total stranger. Hard to explain that! - Shiva
I am not surprised at all that Shiva would do this…but what caught my attention is the very first words: “Only in India.” In Shiva’s home country, it is not unusual for strangers to do acts of kindness for someone else. In contrast, it is not customary for this kind of thing to happen in the United States.
Pickelball friends - August 2022. Sue, me, Shiva
If a country of 1.4 billion people can adopt this mindset, why can’t a country of 342 million do the same?
It is not only a shift in mindset that would need to happen in our “me-me-me” society, but also a heart shift. Perhaps paying for an Uber for a stranger is too much to ask from the start of such a shift…so let’s start with something smaller.
If you will appease and please me, I would be thrilled if you would get out a note card or a piece of paper and write a note to someone you will pass on the street this week whom you don’t know. It can be addressed to “friend” or “neighbor”…whatever you are comfortable with. And simply let them know that they are loved…that they matter in this world…that they are seen.
You will likely never know the impact of your gesture, and that is fine…that is not the purpose. But it could be profound in ways beyond your comprehension.
Thanks in advance, neighbors. Let’s spread a little light, a little love, a little kindness to those with whom we cross paths. There are no coincidences in this life…but there are plenty of synchronicities.
Until next week, dear neighbors, happy writing!
—Angie
While people in the Midwest may not make it a regular habit to pass notes to one another, I will say, having been raised in the northeast, people here are noticeably kinder to strangers.
Beautiful Angie. Let's continue to work to make this more common in our neck of the words. Glad you are trusting the timing with writing, your readers are always blessed for it!