Small Kindnesses

Everyday, I think about tiny but grand gestures that pass us by unnoticed. Once you truly look for them though, you can find them everywhere.

Like when you sneeze and a random someone tells you, “Bless you” which in essence means “Don't die”. The friendly vendor who sells pastries at school always slips in an extra bun for you because you are her favorite customer.

Sometimes, you walk down a crowded aisle and people subconsciously pull their legs in to let you pass because they wouldn't want you to trip. Or when you forget to zip your bag, and someone is tapping you to tell you about it, so the contents in your bag doesn't spill. Your friend brings an umbrella to school and offers to share when the sun glares too bright. Your partner sees your favorite snacks, gets them and when he gives it to you, he says, “I knew you liked them, so I got it for you.”

You know your mother is not much of a hugger but when you get to visit her the few times you can in a year, you hug her just long enough and you feel her relax against you. She's often the last to let go. Your dad says he doesn't care much for birthday gifts or parties but when he receives wishes and that special bottle of wine he likes so much, you see his eyes light up with joy. Of course, he does care. Birthdays still makes him giddy even if he has to suppress it. Your brother sees you struggling to open a jar, and he casually asks you to pass it. He unscrews it with ease. It's his small kindness.

You are about to cross a busy highway, and this one driver stops to let you cross safely. He smiles at you and waves you on. You are heading back from school and there has been a downpour. There are large puddles on the street. It means you have to step through them and get your feet soaked. A tricycle rider stops and asks you to hop in, so he can get you past them and your feet can stay dry. Or when it has just rained and there are puddles everywhere but a car slows down because the driver is determined not to splash muddy water on you.

There are days when you feel ugly. You look at yourself in the mirror and you don't feel safe in your appearance but when you step out, you receive compliments from friends and strangers alike. Strangers pass you by and say—”you look beautiful. You look pretty”— and all of a sudden, the world feels just right. Each compliment gives a boost to your morale and soon there is a new spring in your step and you are skipping on your way. There are times when you feel like an imposter. No, not even that. Sometimes, you feel your work—your art—is not good enough. It feels insufficient but you put it out and people are giving you accolades and praises for what you think isn't even your best work. You know that your imperfect art has touched lives. And that's enough for you.

As humans, we are mostly bad. But sometimes, we do not want to harm ourselves. Maybe all we want to do is love quietly and be loved in return. Maybe what makes our day are the casual comments of “You first.”, the sincere “I like your dress.”, “You look dashing today.” The air buzzes with tiny but grand gestures and all you have to do is really look. When you see these brief moments of exchanges, they are extraordinarily beautiful.

_{This writeup was inspired by the songs, Treat People with Kindness by Harry Styles and Kill 'Em With Kindness by Selena Gomez. Everyday, let's aspire to be kind to people even in the slightest of ways. You don't know how much your tiny gestures might mean to people.}

All screenshots were taken from YouTube Music