Choose acts of kindness

I was walking into school and saw a girl spill the contents of her folder all over the sidewalk. Several bystanders witnessed this and hurried over to help her clean up the mess. I know this wasn’t some great act of kindness, but I appreciated this caring gesture.

During the rest of my day, I started to notice little acts of good will. These are not acts that would ever cause a person’s name to be listed in the newspaper; however, they can make a big difference. I feel that sometimes we get caught up in all of the negative news. We shouldn’t allow these negative tones to define how we perceive the world. Nobody knows what is happening in someone else’s life. As Plato said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”

If everyone chose to be like the kids who helped the girl pick up her papers, imagine how positive the future would look. These acts of kindness may not get you recognized, but they will be silently appreciated.

So I challenge everyone reading this to ponder a single question, “What can I do today to make someone smile?”

Sue Winger

Spokane