The One with Humanity

This month's issue of Real Simple, one of my favorite magazines, had a really good article about random acts of kindness which I thought was really appropriate for the season. I have given you a couple of songs to listen to as you read this that are not only holiday songs but also fit my message today. I know that I don't live in New York, but it is the rest of the lyrics that I want you to hear. Sometimes it seems like humanity and compassion have been lost in today's society. I personally don't think that this is because people aren't compassionate anymore. I just think that we get so caught up and busy in our own lives that we don't notice those around us that need some help or even just a smile. In the article, some of their suggestions are common courtesy in my opinion such as waiting for your friends to make it inside their home when you drop them off. I was raised with this not being an option. Others though I thought were worth trying out. I particularly liked the idea to leave your extra change in the machine when you buy a soda from a vending machine. I have been doing this a lot at work lately. It's just a little thing that puts a smile on someone's face. One suggestion that I have been too scared to try yet is to pay for the order of the car behind you at a drivethrough. I want to do this one, but I'm afraid that I would freak someone out. Another idea that I like is to take cookies or something edible for the workers when you drop off an in-person donation to a charity. It's something thoughtful for the people that do so much for others. This week I performed my own random act of kindness at the grocery store. I had to pop in to pick up a couple of last minute items for our holiday party at work. I was there around 10:30am which apparently is when most of the elderly population goes to the grocery store probably to avoid crowds. I was in line at one of the quick registers and had already put my items on the conveyer belt. There was a little older lady behind me with a cart, and I offered to put her items on the belt for her. She was so happy and thanked me repeatedly and told me what a nice young lady I was. This was just a common courtesy, but I took the time to notice her and that is what I want you to get from this. So, please not just in the next week during the holidays, but every day from now on, remember this and look around you and try to do a kind deed for someone. Find your own way to do a random act of kindness and spread humanity.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!