Small kindnesses are found every day. I am both a target and a victim of kindness. Sometimes I am the provider of kindness. But because I work in healthcare that cup tends to run empty most of the time, or so it feels recently. Today a stranger asked me how to get to Yonge and Wellesley, and I told her, "you have to walk in this direction" while pointing north. She didn't seem crazy, so I helped her. Kindness is withheld in stores. In clinics. Pharmacies. In any high-volume customer service setting really. Our cups do not fill for just anyone.
Last week a stranger dropped all her change on the curb as she was about to cross the street. M and I along with some other strangers who were about to cross helped her pick up the change. She said gratefully, “you guys are AWESOME.” Also last week my Uber driver helped me load and unload my furniture into his car, even though I said I could handle it. Another kindness is being welcomed when visiting M’s mom’s place. As a kid, visiting friends’ places meant coming and going with politeness and hushed movements, not disturbing the tranquility and forced perfection of the asian household. There’s none of that now. Maybe it means I am growing up and slowly realizing that it is okay to accept the kindness of others. K helped me realize this, whether he knew it or not.
The Toronto winds howl, and the people wander the street wear winter coats, light spring jackets, sweatpants and hoodies, the outfits as confusing as the weather itself.
We came across a vintage print of a snakes and ladders game in a bookstore during a 50% off sale day. Upon closer inspection, we found something interesting. Sympathy (bottom of the ladder) leads to Love (top of the ladder). Makes sense. Indulgence leads to illness. Indifference leads to Poverty.
