I was reminded how ordinary people doing everyday things can change the trajectory of others’ lives.  That could go either way, positive or negative, but I am looking at how small things we do can make a powerful impact on how people feel and move forward in life. 

First, we have to be open to recognizing situations where we can be helpful.  If I am rushing through life, worried about all that I have to accomplish, I will likely miss any opportunity to be helpful.  When I slow down and live in the moment, I become more aware of my surroundings.  Ordinary moments start to provide opportunities to grow compassion. 

Once we become aware of the needs of those around us, the opportunity to cultivate kindness grows.  We start to see beyond what we are doing ourselves to what we can do for others.  Our awareness starts to grow regarding how we can be helpful. 

When our focus moves from ourselves to others, we let go of all the small inconveniences in our lives and try to make someone else’s life a bit brighter; things we might not see when we are consumed with our own lives.  Small acts of kindness can create opportunities for someone to make it through the day. 

There are countless ways we can be helpful to those around us.  We can provide a meal, a bottle of water, temporary shelter, a listening ear, an article of clothing, a piece of furniture, a loan, a ride, a haircut, a smile, or a simple acknowledgment of their presence.

It does not matter what neighborhood we live in, who our neighbors are, what school we attend, or where we work; we can all spread kindness.  When we’re not sure if our compassion is making an impact, we can all think about the story of the person working in the school cafeteria, providing a few extra crackers or pieces of fruit for the child to make it through the weekend until the next warm meal at school.  Years later, the child who is now an adult returns to thank the person who “saw” them and was kind enough to provide a little extra.  The return was to say thank you, but also to say, “I made it, because you saw me.”            

All things ordinary can be extraordinary and change the trajectory of someone’s life.     

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