Random Acts of Kindness

The other day I was the recipient of a random act of kindness. It was a very small gesture that someone did for me but he didn't have to do this for a total stranger and it really made my day.

So much that I thanked him profusely until almost to the point of embarrassment and I told him that I hoped someone did something for him very soon.

Today, the world reels from the shock of yet another act of violence bestowed upon the innocent.

People who were just running. People who were out supporting family and friends.  Volunteers and emergency service personnel working together to ensure the Boston Marathon was the success it deserved to be.

I don't know anyone who was there. Perhaps that is lucky. But it could have happened anywhere, at anytime, to anyone of us.

And it makes me so sad.

Sad to think of the little boy who was there cheering on his Dad. That little boy didn't make it. His sister has lost a leg. And his Mum is in a critical condition following brain surgery for injuries sustained.  This family were on a family day out.

Just like all the others that were there. On a day out. Supporting a loved one. Being part of a community.

As I watched the tv coverage and read articles on it, I came across something on facebook. It was a quote from Fred Rogers (I have no idea who or what he was/is but I really liked this).

It said "When I was a boy and saw scary things in the news, my mother would say to me "look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."

And as I thought about how we can explain such another human tragedy to our kids, this has stayed with me all day. People who ran towards the explosion to lift barriers off people, to pick people up, I even say a lady runner run along and help two people who were pushing an obviously disabled child in a pram to get them out of harms way fast.

No doubt there will be lots of heroic stories to come in the days ahead.  And that is what I will focus my kids, and myself on. Because I can't make sense of it either.

So whether the random act of kindness is doing something very small for a stranger or a friend, or helping out in a tragedy that has been caused by another human being, it all counts towards a better universe.

I just hope that I can do some of these acts of kindness - just to help the universe recover its balance - and to make someone who may be having a real shit of a time, to have a smile on their face - even for the briefest of moments.

And from me to you - an Apache Blessing...

"May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it's beauty all the days of your life.”

Take care

Lisa xxx