Have you ever noticed how aggressive you feel after someone cuts you off, tailgates you, or nearly crashes into you when they forget to obey the yield sign? Your defenses go up, your heart is racing, and you’re probably going to lean on the horn when the next driver even comes close. The ripple effect has been set in motion.
However, how quickly does your mood settle back into compassion if that other driver gives you a wave of apology, recognizing their mistake? If you’re like most, it probably settles you right down and nips the ripple in the bud.
If little acts like a wave can offset the aggression of self-defense, how much more uplifting would a kind word or deed be on its own?
Imagine how comfortable you would be walking into the elevator if the person inside acknowledged you and said “good morning.” Or consider the pleasant surprise for the person driving through a toll booth behind one of my college roommates, who throws in enough change to cover both cars. You might even see the odd New Yorker sprinting toward the subway doors, only to step aside and wait for the older lady behind her with an "after you."
I would imagine that if I were on the receiving end of these acts, I’d be more likely to be in a positive mindset and, in turn, do a kind deed for someone else. What will you do to set the ripples in motion today?
Quote of the Week: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Theresa
1 comment:
I see this kind of thing all the time and also am pro-active about 'stopping the ripple.' I have found that the ideology 'do unto others and you would have others do unto you' has remained a constant throughout my life and as such am surrounded by very kind and friendly people.
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