If you are in a stressful situation, a simple act of kindness may be just what you need to feel calm again—now challenge yourself to try this once a day!
By Carol Rickard
Have you ever been on the receiving end of an RAK (random act of kindness)?
Then you know firsthand how it can transform a person’s day!
Actually, it helps BOTH people–YOU and the person you are doing it for. This is one of the most powerful LifeTOOLS there is!
I recently had this experience when driving back from North Carolina where I’d been doing a training.
It’s an 8 hour drive. I love to drive! So that’s why I do it.
However, because I have to go through Washington D.C. and Baltimore, depending on traffic, it can sometimes take longer and become a little stressful.
It’s when I got to one of the last toll booths where my stress level started to RISE. There was only one booth open that took cash…
Very quickly, cars and trucks started to back up, creating a very long line. At this point, I was still feeling calm and less stress.
However, soon many cars started to pull up ahead of me and cut into the line of us waiting to pay our tools.
THIS started to get to me! ‘”Why couldn’t they wait in line just like everyone else?” I remember saying out loud. (There was no one else with me in the car!)
So, this happened three times!
Then I saw this little red car pull up as if to go to the booth next over—BUT it was closed.
As she stopped and realized it was closed, the line had started to back up 20 cars deep.
She started moving in my direction and I decided to leave space between me and the next car, so she could pull in. Suddenly, my stress melted away!
It felt good to do a …Random Act of Kindness!
As I pulled up to the toll booth to pay, the guy said to me: “The car before you paid your toll.” It was $8.00!
It brought a tear of joy to my eye as I thought about how much my simple random act of kindness must have made her day too!
Needless to say, the rest of the drive home I had a smile on my face!
I knew then I wanted to share that moment here with you today.
More importantly…I knew I wanted to create this Random Act of Kindness Challenge!
So, here’s what it is:
Do one random act of kindness EVERY day for the next 14 days!
Here’s some simple ideas of what to do:
- Hold or open a door.
- Ask if you can help carry something.
- Let the person with a few items go ahead of you in the check out line.
- Say “good morning” or “nice to see you.”
- Let someone pull in front of you or have the parking space.
- Add time to an expired meter. Pay a toll for the person behind you!
- Let someone in who’s waiting to get in line.
- Offer to buy someone’s coffee or lunch.
Remember, it doesn’t take a lot to transform a day!
Let me know in the comment box if you accept this challenge!
~ To Living Well TODAY! ~
via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
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