A Random Act of Kindness

I've been a little down on myself lately. The reasons are neither relevant nor important. Last night as I waited impatiently for a contract decision from an important client, I got an answer from an unexpected source. A former colleague, someone I have not heard from in several years, cold-called me for no other reason than to remind me of my own self worth, and of how I had made a significant difference in his life. He asked me for nothing. He just felt called to reach out - a random act of kindness - and it meant the world to me. In spite of his own significant life challenges, his only concern at that moment was to let me know that I had made a powerful impact in his life, and that I mattered to him.

There is a nobility to his outreach that I can only hope to capture with these words. That is the important message that I want to share. We (ALL OF US) have a power, under-appreciated and often untapped, to remind others of their self-worth. It doesn't take a lot of energy or effort, just a decision to act for the benefit of another person. Few, if any, would claim the ability to know exactly when to make that decision to act, to know when it is really needed in another person's life. In my experience, it happens when I feel a tugging inside to call an old friend or to send a note on LinkedIn or FaceBook or even a text or message, just to say that I am thinking about that person, and that I care about them. It can be that simple. Whatever prompting works in your life, give in to it. Tell those that you care about that they matter, and that they always will. And tell them why and how they have touched your life.

A simple, seemingly random act can make a profound difference in the life of another person. Having lived both sides of this experience, I can say that I have personally gained so much more just by following my instincts and sending that little note. Every random act of kindness carries an incredible significance in a world that is increasingly marked by judgement and rejection of others. It's always a choice to walk in the light, share a little joy, and lift the life of another person you care about. It's just one small way to make a positive difference in the world, and in the life, of another person. Next time you feel that tug, give it a voice. Who knows whose life you might change with that simple, random act of kindness.

Thanks for the inspiration Ron, I miss you brother!

Alan