Janese Johnson

When I was growing up, I often heard my grandmother talk about the importance of being kind.

She would say that it was important to talk to people and ask them how they are doing because they might be having a hard day and might need that kindness to help them through.

I have come to believe that not only can kindness help someone through the day, but kindness can also change our lives. Most of us would not be where we are in life if it had not been for the kindness of another helping us through. Those are the true gifts that we all receive, and they usually are given from and to someone that we know.

The kindness that my grandmother talked about was kindness to strangers. She talked to everyone everywhere, and most often left him or her with a smile in their hearts and on their face. She was a true role model, and I wanted to be just like her. My kindness to strangers was primarily nice gestures, compliments and friendliness ó until the kindness of a stranger towards my family changed my level of kindness to whole other level.

About 16 years ago, we were eating at a restaurant. There were seven of us in our family: my then-husband, our five children, and me. When we went to pay for our meal, the server told us that someone else had paid the whole bill. We were quite surprised that anyone would do that! When we asked who the generous person was, the server told us the person wanted to remain anonymous. We were so touched by that experience that we vowed to give back to others in a more meaningful way for the rest of our life. Since then I have been looking for opportunities to give to others in ways that are meaningful for them.

A couple of days ago a woman came up to me and recognized me from a few years back from a supermarket. She had recognized me because I bought her a plant. We both were looking at the bamboo plants known as prosperity plants; she said that she couldnít get one because she didnít have the money. I then bought the prosperity plant for her and left the store feeling more fulfilled in my being that I could do something so simple and kind to another without a lot of effort on my part. I completely forgot about that situation until a few days ago when she approached me, and thanked me for doing that. She said that it touched her deeply.

We all have stories on kindness that have touched our life or the life of our loved ones. That is one of the things that make us a unique species on this wonderful planet.

We have the ability to give to others even if it doesnít benefit our survival. The great thing is that in giving to others we are enhancing the quality of life for all of us on this wonderful planet because generosity is quite contagious. As Buddha says ì As rain falls equally on the just and unjust, do not burden your heart with judgments, but rain your kindness equally on allî. So letís keep on giving.