I took my son to a popular fast food chain today at lunch for a treat. And it seems everyone else had the exact same idea. The place was packed!
I drove around the small parking lot doing loops for 5 minutes waiting for a spot. Finally I found one. A lady was returning to her car so I followed her and waited patiently for her to vacate the spot. As I did this I looked in my rear vision mirror and noticed a young male swiftly pull up behind me. As soon as he saw my indicator on for the spot he began hitting his steering wheel and swearing "f**k" (and lots of other angry words) in frustration. I knew this wasn't at me but at the sheer disappointment that he had missed a spot. I felt his pain. I too had been circling the place for ages.
As the lady reversed out of the spot I did something that even shocked me. I let the man behind me have take the spot. Turned off my indicator and drove straight past.
The man behind me was stunned. Shocked. Unsure what to do. It is not car park etiquette at all to take a spot the person in front of you has been waiting and indicating for. So I wound down my window and motioned for him to take it, calling out at the same time "It's yours buddy".
Now I don't know if I'm extremely emotional at the moment (probably). But after I did this I drove away crying. Maybe it was because I had waited so long for a spot I had just given away. But deep down I know it was because this kindness even shocked me.
Who is this person?
Who does this sort of thing?
It certainly isn't the girl I was 12 months ago. Or even a week ago.
Kindness. It changes you. Well it has me.
The reason I let that man have my spot today wasn't to be 'kind'. Honestly the thought hadn't even crossed my mind. It was because seeing him react the way he did, I knew the spot meant more to him than it did me. So I let him have it.
In the end Gabe and I ended up driving further down the road to another car park. Where, although I had to walk quite a bit further, I was grateful I could. Perhaps the man I let take the spot couldn't? Perhaps his health wasn't as good as mine? I will never know ♥
I drove around the small parking lot doing loops for 5 minutes waiting for a spot. Finally I found one. A lady was returning to her car so I followed her and waited patiently for her to vacate the spot. As I did this I looked in my rear vision mirror and noticed a young male swiftly pull up behind me. As soon as he saw my indicator on for the spot he began hitting his steering wheel and swearing "f**k" (and lots of other angry words) in frustration. I knew this wasn't at me but at the sheer disappointment that he had missed a spot. I felt his pain. I too had been circling the place for ages.
As the lady reversed out of the spot I did something that even shocked me. I let the man behind me have take the spot. Turned off my indicator and drove straight past.
The man behind me was stunned. Shocked. Unsure what to do. It is not car park etiquette at all to take a spot the person in front of you has been waiting and indicating for. So I wound down my window and motioned for him to take it, calling out at the same time "It's yours buddy".
Now I don't know if I'm extremely emotional at the moment (probably). But after I did this I drove away crying. Maybe it was because I had waited so long for a spot I had just given away. But deep down I know it was because this kindness even shocked me.
Who is this person?
Who does this sort of thing?
It certainly isn't the girl I was 12 months ago. Or even a week ago.
Kindness. It changes you. Well it has me.
The reason I let that man have my spot today wasn't to be 'kind'. Honestly the thought hadn't even crossed my mind. It was because seeing him react the way he did, I knew the spot meant more to him than it did me. So I let him have it.
In the end Gabe and I ended up driving further down the road to another car park. Where, although I had to walk quite a bit further, I was grateful I could. Perhaps the man I let take the spot couldn't? Perhaps his health wasn't as good as mine? I will never know ♥
1278 Reads
- Posted by brindlegirl
- Mar 20, 2018
- Comments (10)
Readers Comments
cabbage wrote: Wow! You are a kindness angel---thank you for sharing this! Who knows what impact your kindness has had on this man.
lindariebel wrote: That was a big favor.
bountiful wrote: what a strong and unselfish gift you have shown this man, he will remember this brindle xx
splain wrote: That was a 10 on the kindness scale. I wonder if that boy felt any shame. Not that it matters but you might have just started him on a different path, a better path.
terre wrote: What a big, beautiful blossom you just had!
mindyjourney wrote: It came from your heart, dear friend, that knows without question the beauty of transformative kindness, especially as done without thought. It's just who you are <3. Wonderful!
mish wrote: You make me smile so with your inner kindness & beauty x
sandyremillar wrote: soo lovely am sharing in fb!
Novice50 wrote: I cannot tell you how much your stories inspire me. You are such a kind, amazing spirit, how lucky your children are to have you as an example of humanness and love. Wow, simply wow. And thank you.
melnotes wrote: Wow brindlegirl that act of kindness really is amazing! That was so very loving of you and agree it came from the heart and isn't this an amazing place!!!!
