It was a day spent enthusiastically preparing for Chelsea’s homecoming.
Luc and I spent the better part of it accomplishing tasks that make a house pretty, prepped, and ready for play.
And although the house was good to go, I was still only half done. There was shopping to do. So I grabbed my list and headed out the door.
There is rarely a day that my favorite grocery store isn’t bustling, so I was relieved to arrive to a relatively quiet environment. And although I could make my way through the aisles with ease, I wished I had thought to grab a large coffee. I was dragging and desperate to catch my second wind.
Of course this wasn’t a ‘scoot in and fill up a hand basket’ grocery excursion. Oh no, this was a ‘grab the biggest cart you can find and settle in, this is gonna take a while’ excursion.
So I seized the first available cart, set my ruler-long grocery list atop my plump purse resting comfortably in the cart’s infant seat, and that’s when I noticed it…..
A handful of tiny heart shaped twist ties wrapped neatly on the back of the infant seat ready and waiting to do their job.
You know the little green-waxy-wrapped wires that are usually stationed below spools of plastic bags placed around the produce section?
Green twist ties that seem so insignificant in the scheme of life?
Now. I have no idea if the person who arranged these ties for quick convenient use did so with the intent for the next shopper to benefit from their presence, but I felt like I was on the receiving end of a random act of kindness.
Such a little thing. Heart shaped twist ties at my fingertips. A gift that shaved a little bit of time off my endeavor.
It was the very boost my tired self needed to get the job done. Truly.
Small act? Yes.
Insignificant? No.
It got me thinking about random acts of kindness and how the smallest gestures can reap the grandest rewards.
A smile.
A thumbs up from an oncoming jogger on a lengthy path.
A stranger in the car ahead that pays for your coffee at the drive-thru.
A kind word.
A surprise letter.
A held door.
Heart shaped twist ties.
It takes just one thing to help make the day of another a little brighter: Intention.
It takes just one thing to receive the kind gesture: Attention.
Attention which melts into gratitude.
When is the last time you were on the receiving end of a random act of kindness? And what was it? I’d love to know!
As we are now smack dab in the middle of the busiest time of year, I hope someone’s random act of kindness helps to make your day a little sweeter.
Have a great week, lovelies!
Annie
XO
This is lovely Annie! Totally lifted my spirits! Now I’m on a mission to undertake some random acts of kindness. Thanks for sharing!
So happy to hear that! Have a lovely day, my friend!
What a sweet and unexpected surprise…. but then an opportunity to slow, and like you said, feel a sense of gratitude. Thank you for this reminder… and this, a random act of kindness, is something I’ll remember to pass on. <3
It takes so little and can mean so much… xo
Love this and yes, life’s best moments are the little moments of the best of humankind 🙂
They certainly are! 🙂
Such a lovely reminder, Annie!
Happy holidays, my friend!
Love this post Annie! I would love to think people would continue random acts of kindness beyond just the holiday season. It’s always nice to brighten someone’s day! Happy holiday season my friend!
Oh yes, always a welcomed gesture! Thanks, friend!
…and I hope you have a wonderful week! XOXO
You too, my friend! XOXO
Such a lovely read and so sweet. Totally true that small acts of kindness can make such a big difference…something that we often overlook or take for granted the impact they make. We all need to be more mindful, kind and aware.
Their ripple effect can grow quite large. No act is too small. Thank you, dear!
Such a sweet post! I love this time of year, when people are actually kind to strangers and wish it could carry over into the new year. We should all leave heart-shaped twist ties in shopping carts!
Let’s start the trend! Thank you, Kelsie! 🙂
This is such a touching story. May we all give and receive more attention!
PS. I’ve almost given up on my dreams for a quiet shopping trip where we live, so totally stoked to hear you had one!
Yes! To more giving and receiving!! <3 I know, right? Having a quiet experience happened at the right time! Thank you, friend!
Hi Annie, what a nice act of kindness whether intentional or not. Your post may start a new trend 😉 . I love to buy the order for the person behind me in the drive thru line. I had this done for me once and it was so heart warming that I love to give those feels back. Have a great week! Take care.
That’s what I thought. 🙂 Hahah! Yes – how cute would it be to see little heart-shaped twist ties on all the carts? This person will never know what they started! 😉 I love that…coffee for the next in line – is there anything more hospitable? Have a great week, my friend!