Yesterday was a very difficult day due to a huge snowstorm in this area. But it was also a very special day because of the kindness of two strangers. The first incident occurred when I was slogging my way through 10-12 inches of snow in the early morning, trying to reach the train station about a mile away so that I could get to work. It was hard going and I couldn’t see my way due to the swirling snow. A guy in a pickup truck stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. I gratefully accepted, and was dropped off at the station in plenty of time to catch the train.
It turned out that that part of the commute was the easy part. My employer provides a free shuttle bus service from a nearby train station to my work, and usually that part of the trip takes about 15 minutes. When I got to the destination station, the bus was very late. The trip to work took over an hour due to the weather. Cars, trucks, and semis were scattered all over the place and traffic was at a standstill.
On the return trip from my work to the train station on the shuttle bus service, I thought I was running on time to be picked up but as I came out of my building, I saw the shuttle bus already driving away. This was the last shuttle bus of the day so I was well and truly stuck. Then I experienced a second act of kindness from a stranger for the day. Another shuttle bus for a different route happened to see me standing there watching my ride drive away without me. The driver opened his door, shouted to me to jump in, and drove after the other bus. Thanks to him I was able to catch up to my shuttle bus and was able to get home from work, after all.
These two acts of kindness truly made my day. Both incidents were unexpected and undeserved. It feels so good to be on the receiving end of the kindness of strangers. I am resolved to be more prepared to show kindness to others as a result.
