Small Kindnesses

   Once in awhile I can't think of anything to write about. I feel pretty lucky because it doesn't happen often. Today seemed to be one of those days.
   Then I remembered something that I would like to write about. This past weekend was General Conference for those who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. C played a talk by Dieter Uchtdorf, who is Second Counselor to the president of the church. It was a good talk. It started out with a story about how he was skiing with his 12 year old grandson. He (President Uchtdorf) hit a patch of ice and fell. He tried to get up, but was unable to. He sat there thinking about the people who would ski by and see him down on the ground. Then his grandson came up, extended his hand and said, get up Opa you can do it. (I'm not sure I have it correct so I didn't want to put in quotation marks.) President Uchtdorf took the proffered hand and stood up. He was amazed because a few minutes before he had no idea how he was going to get up.
   This talk really touched me especially the story at the beginning. I would write about the rest of it, but it isn't post in text form on the LDS website yet.
   It made me think about how we as a society are pretty good at helping out when there is a disaster of some kind. When hurricanes or tornadoes strike it's not uncommon for people to donate money and time to help those who have been affected. Go into any coffee shop or restaurant that has a public bulletin board and you will see announcements of benefits to help people who have had homes destroyed by fire, been in a serious accident or are suffering from a serious illness. People have gathered together to hold vigils after mass shootings.
  Why does it take a disaster for all of us to put aside our differences and work together? Why do we wait until someone's home is destroyed, someone develops a life threatening disease or is a victim of a violent act before we reach out?
  There are so many little things that we can do that would mean so much. Writing a thank you note instead of sending a text or nothing at all. Encouraging someone who is trying to make a lifestyle change. Being a little more patient while standing in line. Choosing not to yell at someone who has made you angry.  Publically thanking someone who has helped you. Celebrating with someone who has had some good news. Telling a coworker that they did a good job.
   It seems like we all think we are too busy to do these little acts. Maybe doing things like this might make us look weak. Maybe we think that someone else will do it or that it just doesn't matter.
   It does matter. Ask anyone that has been on the receiving end on a random act of kindness. Ask someone who found the courage to make changes in their life because someone else was there to help them.
  It makes me  a little sad to read about acts of kindness in the news. Not that I am against it, but because someone doing a kind act is out of the ordinary  enough that it warrants public attention.
  I think it's time we all started to be nicer to each other. Say hi to your neighbor. Open a door for someone who has their hands full. Smile at someone. Hold a hand out to a fallen skier.
  Let's not wait for a disaster before we come together. Let's do it now.