If you live in NYC for any length of time you develop
extraordinary sensory perception. It’s a necessity. Having a finely
tuned radar system is the only way to survive. We live too close together
and travel en masse. You must be able to figure out that this is a crazy
person but no need to cross the street, this crazy person you move far away
from, and don’t even make a left turn here because you don't even want to know
what's going on down that street.
One day at work I had to man the fitness desk. I was hungry and had half a sandwich with me. I went to sit at a table with a boy sitting alone. I asked if it was okay and he nodded. I sat eating my sandwich for a minute or so as he stared at me. He then said, “ I have a soccer ball at home.” I said, “wow that’s great, do you play.” Yes, he said. I saw a book on the table and said, are you studying mandarin? Yes. Could you speak it for me? He looked me in the eyes and said, “I really can’t do that. “ He was 6 and in first grade, we talked for a bit and then I told him I had to go back to the fitness desk but if he liked he come chat with me there. He shook his head and said, “I have to stay right here.” This young boy probably intuited that I was someone who would appreciate his ownership of a soccer ball!
I was in the brand new Target looking at the men’s pajama bottoms. They are much nicer than the women's which are made of modal, a fabric that feels like you are wearing an oil slick. The men’s of course are 100% cotton. As I looked among the selections I noticed an odd creature watching me and smiling. He then approached. The radar said – crazy but benign, so I stayed. He smiles and says, “I like the mens and I like the womens. The mens I love but the womens I marry. I said something like, “how nice for you.” He kept smiling, paused for a few brief seconds, turned and then evaporated, to whence he came.
I was walking in the West Village close to where I live. A hipster couple walked up to me and the man said, here this is for you as he handed me a flower. I said thank you. It looked as if were picked from a shrub. I put it in a vase full of water. A few flowers fell off but a couple grew. Well this little little shrub is still going strong and has begun rooting. I plan on planting it in a pot all it's own. A random act of kindness is beginning to take root!
I was at the Lexington & 53rd Street station, whose picture is in the dictionary as an example of hell. I saw a blind man walking to the end of the station. There are sections where the path is so narrow; it’s scary even with sight. I offered to help him. He needed to get to the back of the station. So we walked together. It always shocks me how oblivious people are but it’s very noticeable when someone is walking with a long white cane. I had to navigate this man around preoccupied people. The scene changed as we walked into the subway car. It was another world, a glorious world - people gave up their seats, everyone was kind and thoughtful. I told this man – we just landed on the nice train!
So my wish for all is that you land on the nice train, each and every day. And let's practice random acts of kindness.
One day at work I had to man the fitness desk. I was hungry and had half a sandwich with me. I went to sit at a table with a boy sitting alone. I asked if it was okay and he nodded. I sat eating my sandwich for a minute or so as he stared at me. He then said, “ I have a soccer ball at home.” I said, “wow that’s great, do you play.” Yes, he said. I saw a book on the table and said, are you studying mandarin? Yes. Could you speak it for me? He looked me in the eyes and said, “I really can’t do that. “ He was 6 and in first grade, we talked for a bit and then I told him I had to go back to the fitness desk but if he liked he come chat with me there. He shook his head and said, “I have to stay right here.” This young boy probably intuited that I was someone who would appreciate his ownership of a soccer ball!
I was in the brand new Target looking at the men’s pajama bottoms. They are much nicer than the women's which are made of modal, a fabric that feels like you are wearing an oil slick. The men’s of course are 100% cotton. As I looked among the selections I noticed an odd creature watching me and smiling. He then approached. The radar said – crazy but benign, so I stayed. He smiles and says, “I like the mens and I like the womens. The mens I love but the womens I marry. I said something like, “how nice for you.” He kept smiling, paused for a few brief seconds, turned and then evaporated, to whence he came.
I was walking in the West Village close to where I live. A hipster couple walked up to me and the man said, here this is for you as he handed me a flower. I said thank you. It looked as if were picked from a shrub. I put it in a vase full of water. A few flowers fell off but a couple grew. Well this little little shrub is still going strong and has begun rooting. I plan on planting it in a pot all it's own. A random act of kindness is beginning to take root!
I was at the Lexington & 53rd Street station, whose picture is in the dictionary as an example of hell. I saw a blind man walking to the end of the station. There are sections where the path is so narrow; it’s scary even with sight. I offered to help him. He needed to get to the back of the station. So we walked together. It always shocks me how oblivious people are but it’s very noticeable when someone is walking with a long white cane. I had to navigate this man around preoccupied people. The scene changed as we walked into the subway car. It was another world, a glorious world - people gave up their seats, everyone was kind and thoughtful. I told this man – we just landed on the nice train!
So my wish for all is that you land on the nice train, each and every day. And let's practice random acts of kindness.
Indeed! Random acts of kindness all around. We need them now more than ever. Extend the light within you to the world around you.
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