December 14, 2019

Quote of the Week

"Recognize that every interaction you have is an opportunity to make a positive impact on others." --Shep Hyken

Hundreds Of Strangers Help Immigrant Newspaper Seller

"Ten seconds. Hassan Nezhadessivandi estimates that’s how long most of the interactions lasted between him and the people he saw each morning as they walked in and out of the Dupont Circle Metro station. It was enough time to say, “Good morning,” and if they were earlier than normal, offer them a high-five for their punctuality. It was not enough time for many to catch his name, ask whether he had a family or learn how he ended up, at an age when others were retiring, hawking copies of Express, the free tabloid that was produced by The Washington Post until it was shut down.

If we pause and break down our days into minutes, so many are filled with these types of fleeting interactions with people whose names we may not know, but whose faces at some point became part of our daily landscape. People we saw yesterday and today and expect to see tomorrow. The parking attendant. The security guard. That woman behind the salad counter who already knows our order.

When it was announced on a Wednesday that the last copy of Express would be handed out that Thursday, many of the commuters who passed Hassan every day realized that he would no longer be in their mornings. They could have done nothing. They could have told him goodbye and wished him well. What they did instead has left him in recent days saying, “I’m so grateful to them.” This week's featured article highlights the kindness of strangers and the powerful impact of our smallest interactions with others.

Reading Corner

Title: One Drop of Kindness
By: Jeff Kubiak
Recommended Ages: 3-12

"Kindness...for some, it comes so easy, but for others, it can be a struggle. The answer often lies in a person’s story. Meet Gus, a one-time orphan who goes through life thinking that hurtful words and actions are the only way to behave and communicate with others. Interestingly, Gus lives in a town that holds a mysterious secret which finally gets unlocked by something that was hidden away. By unlocking this secret, you too can join the ripple effect of kindness that Gus, along with his school and town, is experiencing with the rest of the world! This book, along with each of you, will change our world as we know it. It only takes One Drop of Kindness to fill a heart with love."
--Publishers

Be the Change

Make a list with your children of at least 3 people who brighten your day even with a small interaction--it could be a local cashier at the supermarket, the librarian who helps your child pick out books, or the mail carrier who gives you a wave and a smile.  Then think of ways in which you can show them your gratitude--a note of thanks, a drawing your child makes for them, or maybe even a list of random acts of kindness that they inspired you to do!