The Kindness of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

"All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it."
~ Thomas a Kempis

Halloween always brings a number of surprises.  This year, the surprise was the popularity of a dad dressed as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from the movie Ghostbusters.  Inflatable and with an interior fan, the costume was a hit with parents and children alike.  Numerous parents asked the Marshmallow Man to pose for photos with their children.  One gentleman even asked him to pose with his lawn Halloween decorations.  The Marshmallow Man dad, not known for seeking or enjoying the limelight, patiently posed for all photos.

The Kindness of Costume Assistance

"I love the spirit of Halloween and the energy that comes with it."
~ Katharine McPhee

It seems fitting on Halloween Eve to write about the kindness of one of my mom friends, who has made preparing for this year's festivities much easier.  This mom, who happens to be the mother of my daughter's best friend, ordered my daughter's costume when she ordered her daughter's, and then went shopping for the requisite shoes and Minnie Mouse ears.  And she delivered it all to my house!

The Kindness of a Sunny Disposition

"Sweeter than the perfume of roses is a reputation for a kind, charitable, unselfish nature; a ready disposition to do to others any good turn in your power."
~ Orison Swett Marden

I recently dropped off my daughter at school a little later than usual.  Why?  Because she had been to a concert the night before.  She was very keen on going late and we had agreed that it would be okay.  But on the way to school, she became a little nervous about showing up late.  When we arrived, I had to accompany her to the office to sign her in.  I had told her that I would just say that she had needed a little extra rest -- which was true, of course.  When we arrived, the administrative assistant in the office gave my daughter a big smile, which immediately put my daughter at ease.  And then asked her, "Taylor Swift?"  She had a paper in front of her with a column of girls' names and Taylor Swift written next to them as the reason for their being tardy.  "So how was the concert?" she asked my daughter, who was thrilled to give her the headlines.  As I walked back to my car, I thought how kindly the administrative assistant had treated my daughter and how her sunny disposition had brightened my day as well.  What a gift!

The Kindness of Driving

"Love only grows by sharing.  You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others."
~ Brian Tracy

One of the nicest things that someone can do for me is to offer to drive.  And that is just what my lovely friend did the other night.  Our children take evening classes together and just as I was getting ready to head out the door, she texted to ask if I wanted her to drive.  I was delighted!  In addition to not having to drive myself, her company is always a treat.

Kindness and an Orange Soda

"Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community."
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

Although I was not a big Cheers viewer, I remember the line from the theme song:  "You want to go where everybody knows your name."  Being a teetotaler and not having a neighborhood bar have not gotten in the way of my having a Cheers-like venue.  It's our local pizza place, affectionately known as Sir P.  For years, a couple of other mothers and I have made it our Friday night family outing.  Friday afternoons invariably bring texts that simply ask, "Sir P?"  It has become such a regular occurrence that friends will stop by on Friday nights to see if we are there.  We have also been known to frequent the place on other nights -- particularly during the summer -- and have celebrated many birthdays there.

On a recent Monday night, I dropped the children off at home after evening activities and ran off to squeeze in a couple of quick errands close to home.  Then I decided that I needed "a drink."  That usually means a Perrier, but on rare occasions, a day can require an orange soda -- especially one with the world's best ice.  So I stopped by Sir P and ordered a small orange soda to go.  As one of the guys behind the counter began to ring me up, the other one said, "Don't charge her.  This one is on us."  I insisted on paying, but then graciously accepted their kindness.  As I drove home, "drink" in hand, I smiled at the thought that it might not be a bar, but I do have my own Cheers-like place.

A Little Parking Lot Kindness at Mickey D's

"Kindness is ever the begetter of kindness."
~ Sophocles

One of my mom friends, a Kindness Muse to be sure, texted me yesterday to share that she had been able to perform a small act of kindness -- thanks to her 9-year-old son.  They were in a very long line at the drive-thru at McDonald's.  As they were stopped, my friend was checking her phone when her son told her that a woman was trying to get out of a parking space but couldn't because of the cars in the drive-thru.  My friend backed her car up, so that the woman could pull her car out of the space.  As she was leaving, the woman motioned for my friend to lower her window and thanked her.  She told my friend that she was surprised that she had moved her car.  My friend replied that the thanks should go to her son.  What made my friend happy was that her son noticed that someone needed something and that the woman went out of her way to say thank you.  Sometimes, kindness comes in twos.

The Kindness of a Posse

"Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved."
~ Mattie Stepanek

This weekend I attended an event hosted by a friend who has had an incredible series of accomplishments in the last year.  Aside from the many things she has achieved as a mother, a wife and a hard-charging professional, she has also met Oprah (a dream of hers), published her first book and organized a motivational event for women.  All truly remarkable.  But she is the first to acknowledge that she has done this with more than a little help from her friends -- her "posse."  Several of the speakers at the motivational event spoke of their own posses.

I looked up the word "posse" and it is no surprise that it comes from the Medieval Latin word for power or strength.  When I think of the word, it takes me back to old Western movies when a lead character or outlaw relied on his posse for power, to intimidate others and to accomplish his objectives, however villainous.  I found this less academic, but nonetheless fitting definition of our modern-day posse on the Internet:  "Posse -- the faithful band of friends whom you call during times of merriment, crisis, boredom or adventure." 

 

How wonderful to have friends who propel us forward with the kindness that manifests itself as power and strength.