Here is the story I have been telling you about all week! I met Jess in one of my classes last year and she reached out to me and asked if she could write for my blog! Her blog, Less Jess, got noticed and she appeared on The Robin Swoboda Show! How great is that?! Jess is a great person and I love her story. I hope you do to!
It Just Feels Good
Many years ago I first heard the term Random Acts of Kindness. I loved the idea of this concept. I was excited when a movie called Pay It Forward came out, although I didn’t necessarily like the ending of the movie. This idea of doing random acts of kindness for strangers really intrigued me. I always imagined paying for the person on the toll road behind me but never did. I just thought people might think I was weird. So I never did anything really special.
Several years ago I met some co-workers for dinner at Longhorn at Southpark shopping center in Strongsville. One co-worker, Lisa, left to use the restroom and came back with a story. While in the bathroom a woman was crying. Lisa proceeded to comfort the woman. The woman had lost her sister that day. (Oh wow, this still brings tears to my eyes). She was there with her family because they had to grab something to eat after planning the funeral. Lisa offered her love and comfort to this complete stranger in a public bathroom. Vicki and I wondered what kept Lisa so long. Finally, Lisa returned to the table and told us what happened.
I had an idea but felt kind of embarrassed to share it, in case my friends shot my idea down. I asked if they all wanted to pitch in for a gift certificate to Longhorn for the family. The girls loved the idea; so all three of us pitched in and purchased a $60 gift certificate for the family. I nervously went over to the table and placed the gift certificate on the table and said this is for your family and walked away.
When the family was finished with their dinner, they came over to thank us. They said at first they didn’t understand what we had given them. They really couldn’t believe we did this for them. We gave everyone hugs. We had conversations about lost loved ones since all three of us had experienced that in our lives. The family said they would be able to get through this because of people like us.
I don’t know their names or where they live. I could pass them in the street today and not even know them. But what I do know, it was one of the most amazing feelings to do this random act of kindness for complete strangers. To this day, this pulls at my heart; especially since I have lost my own Mom since that time.
"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." ~Stephan Grellet
Sincerely,Jess Shultzaberger, Nicolle’s friend & Guest Blogger
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| Check out her blog! |
Cost: $20 (per person)
Time: ~10 minutes
Reward: A great feeling.
~Jess, the Guest Blogger.
This is awesome!!! Amazingly I just finished watching Pay It Forward (which I've seen before), so this was great timing that I happened to be reading this. :) I wish everyone could do little things like this, I think it would make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren, it was an amazing feeling to be able to do this.
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