I get tons of emails from breast cancer awareness sites, one of which is called The Breast Cancer Site. They sell lots of breast cancer awareness apparel items and things of the like. I got an email today that they are doing a "Kindness Rocks" campaign - everyone submits a story of an act of kindness they have given or received and the winner gets a "kindness rocks" t-shirt or something. ("Kindness Rocks" is one of the slogans for the Komen foundation.)
After I read that, I started thinking about what I would submit if I had to submit something. I encounter lots of little random acts of kindness on a daily basis - a friend sending me notes from class when I was sick; someone holding the door when my hands are full; a driver letting me over into his lane - but I guess those are more "common decencies" than true acts of kindness. A true act of kindness may mean sacrificing something for yourself and giving to others, or just going out of your comfort zone. Or it may be none of that - it may be something you do just because you care for someone, but it means the world to them.
I tried to think of that last true act of kindness I did for someone. Sadly, I really had to think long and hard about this... I generally think of myself as a pretty giving person, and over the last year or so, I have had a lot of friends going through hard times, and I too have had some hard times. I think the last true act of kindness I exhibited was being there for a friend going through a particularly hard time, even when I was totally emotionally drained myself. It took a lot for me to be with her and be supportive when I really wanted to scream: "but I'm hurting too!!" But, that's not what it's about, and the small amount of time she needed my support is nothing compared to the overall benefit for both of us. And, as I look back on it, I'm glad that I really didn't let her know how much I was hurting inside because at the time that wasn't her problem at all.
Personally, I think it's always easier to think of acts of kindness you have received than you have given, because something you receive may have seemed monumental to you, but could have required little to no thought or effort on the person giving it. I know exactly the last true act of kindness I have received:
On Day 3 of my 60 mile walk in August, I was in sheer pain from shin splints. I could barely walk and it was taking EVERY ounce of willpower and mind-over-matterness that I had to even take the next step and not just give up and get on the bus. When we stopped for lunch on the 3rd day, Alison said "I'm going to give you a leg massage." I knew she was in incredible pain, too, but she hurried through her lunch and then came to where I was sitting and massaged my legs. The overall experience + the excruciating pain + the blatant kindness in Alison taking care of me almost made me just melt in tears. I'm sure Al would have loved a foot massage too, but she was looking out for me and her act of kindness was above and beyond what I could have asked for at that moment.
Acts of kindness always rock, random or not, and I am lucky to associate with some very kind and thoughtful people. Now that I've written this all down, I'm thinking about submitting it to the website!
