The Kindness of Strangers, and Ourselves by Lynn Lovegreen

 

Thanks to old Covid habits and retirement, I don’t get out as often as I used to. My main haunts outside my house are the grocery store, the gym, the library, and the post office. (Yes, I still use snail mail!) But even with my limited activity, I still see the kindness of strangers on a regular basis.

 

It’s common in my town for people to acknowledge each other, usually with a smile but sometimes verbally. I get many “Good morning” or “Hi!” greetings from employees and customers at these places.  I also do the same. It’s a small way of saying, “I see you as a fellow human being.”

 

Living in Alaska, there’s often opportunity to talk about the weather. During a recent cold snap, as we left the building, the guy next to me said, “Whoa!” It was natural to reply, “Yeah, it’s really cold today,” and chat for a minute before we went our separate ways. This also works when it’s snowing hard, too warm for this time of year, you get the idea. I have snatches of conversation with strangers on a regular basis. It feels nice to make that connection.

 

My favorite grocery store moment is when a young man was looking at the cereal and I hesitated to pass in front of him, not wanting to block him if he was about to reach for a box. He met my eyes, waved me on, and said “Go ahead, Mama.” It tickled me to hear him call me that. Maybe I reminded him of his mama or grandma? Maybe he was calling me an elder? Whatever the reason, I felt seen. I smiled through the rest of my shopping.

 

Maybe these small kindnesses won’t change the world. But they might make someone’s day. And they help build a sense of community. The next time you’re out running errands, take a moment to show kindness to the people around you. It just might make the world a better place.

 

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for most of her life. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering for her local library. Her young adult historical romance is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com.