The World Is Full Of Scary People Out To Get You…Right?
Some would have you believe that we live in a world where the approach of a stranger signals danger. In this version, the universe is a place full of fear and suspicion.
It’s a grim, dark kind of world, where there are few opportunites for “random acts of kindness” to flourish without anticipating some creeping, hidden motive. Automatically, we expect the worst of people. We anticipate the “going wrong” of things.
But I just don’t buy it. Especially when I’ve had a day like today.
Because today I caught the universe “red handed”. I’m going to share with you an experience that illustrates perfectly how I believe the universe secretly works. Where sushi, spilt coffee and groceries all come together to shout out how magical the world can be, and how random acts of kindness may not be so random after all.
Shall I begin?
Raw Fish, Spilt Coffee and The Ego
My husband Antonio and I were eating sushi (well he was, I was eating california hand rolls with avocado – sadly no raw fish until baby arrives) and we were having an intense and focused discussion on doing things to deliberately challenge the ego.
The idea was to perform acts of kindness and service in situations where we would normally resist – for instance, choosing to clean up the spilt coffee and left over rubbish left thoughtless all over a neighbouring table. To perform little acts of thoughtfulness that are not about making ourselves feel good, or even as an attempt to make the other person feel good, but simply as an inspired act. A giving back of ourselves.
We decided to look for moments like this to practise being more flexible in our thoughts and to allow ourselves the opportunity to put ego in its place – even if it was only for a moment.
After lunch we headed home, and I went off to the supermarket.
Kindness In The Carpark
Being 30 weeks pregnant, I am starting to find it tiring to get around, especially now that the weather is hotting up. So by the time I emerged from the supermarket with my groceries, my 18 month old little girl wriggling like crazy to get out of her seat in the loaded trolley, I felt pretty light-headed. I manouveured myself awkwardly towards our car that had been baking nicely in the afternoon sun.
After a brief struggle getting the little one into her seat, I walked (well okay, waddled) to the back of the car to start loading up all of my bags.
Suddenly I hear a voice to my left. “Are you right with that?” A man in his 50s was standing a few cars away. His face was slightly sunburned and it crinkled in the bright sun. “Yes, I’m fine, really.” I said instinctively, and turned away to continue.
“No, really, let me help.” He walked over to me, and strangely enough I felt no fear, no apprehension at all.
I stood there watching as he began loading all of my heavy bags into the car. I tried every now and then to pick one up myself but each time he stopped me with a “No, let me.” All I was allowed to do was watch. I could hear myself saying “thank you” over and again, half expecting him to get bored halfway through and walk away.
But he stayed and loaded every bag I had.
Then I reached up to close the boot (and being tiny this is quite a sight) but he beat me to it and casually flung it shut.
I then grasped the handle of the trolley to move it away, but again he was there, already whisking it away.
I called out my thanks again, and he turned and waved, with a huge smile on his ruddy Queensland face. I watched in my rear view mirror as he drove away in a beat up white 4WD, my keys in my lap.
What just happened?
How To Manifest A Not So Random Act Of Kindness
I had just been given this incredible gift by a total stranger, and I couldn’t stop saying “thank you” out loud as I sat there in my hot car.
Let me be clear – I have NEVER had anyone help me with my groceries like that before. (I’ve been pregnant in London where sadly you’re lucky to even have someone give up their seat for you on the tube. )
And as I drove home, I couldn’t help connecting the generosity of that man with the conversation that had unfolded with my husband at lunch. I believe that our combined intention to get selfless – to open ourselves to opportunities to serve others – and the quality of this “attention to intention” – allowed a tiny act of service to come flying back my way. And how quickly, too!
This was supposedly a “random” act of kindness from a total stranger. But was it really random?
In a seemingly distrustful world where acts of kindness appear to be so rare and our responses so wary, isn’t it more powerful to choose a more generous and kind vision for your world? Where this kind of reciprocity can happen all the time, if you allow it in?
A world where kindness may not be so random after all?
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Wonderful post! I’ve actually experienced something similar. These synchronicities just keep on happening and it makes me think that they’re more than synchronicities!