In-Flight Kindness

"Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile, being the first to make the stranger feel part of things, being helpful, thinking of others' feelings, being inclusive."
~ Margaret D. Nadauld

On a recent overseas trip, the plane had just taken off when the overhead bin above our seats opened.  I was concerned as there were three roller-boards in it and my daughter was directly under them.  Before I could react, a quick-thinking passenger behind us stood up and closed the bin.  It opened again.  Even though we were on our ascent, the passenger stood up again, took the suitcase out of the bin, put it next to him and waited until a few minutes later when one of the flight attendants came over to see what had happened.  As it turned out, the bin had to be placed out of service.  I was deeply grateful for the kindness of this stranger.

The Kindness of Paying Attention

On a recent trip, my family and I signed up for a whale-watching tour.  As our boat was pulling away from the dock, another family was running toward the ship.  A gentleman on board signaled to the captain and the boat pulled back into the dock and picked up the family.

The Kindness of the Best House Guests... Ever

"A tree is known by its fruits; a man by his deeds.  A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."
- Saint Basil

Staying with friends on a recent trip, we tried to be good house guests.  There is no doubt in my mind that we fell short.  But it reminded me of a family that stayed at our house more than 10 years ago.  They were incredibly considerate and easy going during their visit, but one of the things that I remember the most is that they insisted on washing their towels and sheets before they left.  It amazes me to this day.

Kindness and "the Soul of an Artist"

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
- Pablo Picasso

On a recent trip overseas, my family and I were shopping in a local market.  I noticed a woman looking at us.  She approached me to ask if the little boy with us was my son.  Yes, I answered.  "Is he an artist?"  Yes, I replied.  She shared that she was an artist and that she could tell that my son had "the soul of an artist."  When I told my son, who loves to draw, what she said, he said, "She made my day."

Kindness on the Subway

"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness."
- William Arthur Ward

While traveling in another country, my family, one of our friends and I were trying to get a group shot on the subway -- one more memento of a fun day spent exploring the city together.  As we struggled to get all of us in the selfie, a well-dressed gentleman sitting across from us asked if we would like him to take our photo.  Yes, we said, and he graciously complied.

The Kindness of Wisdom and Inspiration

"How can I be useful, of what service can I be? There is something inside of me, what can it be?"
- Vincent Van Gogh

We recently attended Mass in another country.  The priest celebrating the Mass looked to be in his early 80s.  He shared that although he had retired three or four weeks ago, he was filling in for the new pastor who was ill.  When it came time for the homily, I was surprised to see this veteran priest pull out some notes.  (At this point, I figured he could certainly "wing" any sermon.)  He delivered a beautiful and inspiring homily about one of his "heroes" -- Vincent Van Gogh.  The priest talked about how this artist, who was not appreciated during his lifetime, left us an incredible legacy in his genius at seeing the divine in the world and being able to share that with us.  The priest asked us to think about what is the fire within each of us and how might we tend it to make our own contribution in the world.

Kindness and the Warmest Welcome

"There is no hospitality like understanding."
- Vanna Bonta

My family and I recently visited our friends who moved to the other side of the world about a year ago.  It took nearly about a full day for us to get there, but when we did, the father of the family and one of the children were waiting for us at the airport -- even though it was very early on a Saturday morning.  When we arrived at their home, the mother had cooked a delicious breakfast.  And on the kitchen counter, there was a sign welcoming my family next to a vase of my favorite flowers.  A very gracious hostess, the mother had thought of everything -- toiletries in our room, a carafe of water, a book I might enjoy on the nightstand...  And when I walked into the bathroom in my room, I smelled a familiar fragrance and found more of my favorite flowers in a small vase.  Every morning as I looked at the beautiful flowers and enjoyed them, I thought how wonderful it is when someone understands the things that make you happy.

Note:  I apologize that I was not able to post for a couple of days, but we lost Internet connection.