A little kindness makes a difference
Aug 17th, 2008 by Ollie Lind
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I must tell you of something that happened to me the other day. The previous night I had attended a competition squash night. I dropped my watch into my bag before my match and, when I returned, the metal band was in pieces. How it happened was a complete mystery to me.
Next morning I dropped into a jewellers to either have it repaired or replaced. I had purchased something else from the store a couple of years ago and had not been back since. It was early in the morning and the counter staff were not there yet.
The jeweller himself served me. I gave his the pieces of the band and asked if it could be saved. I jokingly said to him that if he had to put it out of its misery could he be merciful. He grinned and went out the back, presumably to his workshop.
Within three minutes he returned, brandishing the watch like a trophy. “It is fixed.” I pulled out my wallet and took out a note.
He smiled, raised his hands and shook his head. “No trouble.”
I looked at him in astonishment, then thanked him and shook his hand. Our parting was warm.
The rest of my day went very smoothly. So smoothly that, late that night when I reviewed my day. (I always spend a few moments reviewing my day to see what lessons I have learnt.) It struck me that perhaps my positive approach struck a chord in the jeweler and caused him to make his generous gesture. After all, he makes part of his living doing repairs.
The positive note carried through my entire day. It is very apparent to me that a little kindness, an unselfish act or simply showing regard for another can set in motion a whole chain of positive events.
I am going to try even harder to make some positive gesture to someone else wherever I can. In fact, this morning A young fellow I train (weights) who trains me in squash in return, gave me a near new squash racquet. He simply said, “You help me, I help you.”
It’s amazing how a sense of fair exchange pervades life to the extent that it does.
Try a little kindness. It will repay you many times over.
Live well,
Ollie Lind