A few years ago, I was working in a small (50-ish person) office. I noticed that even though the size of the organization was not huge, we often worked in our disparate teams; and while everyone was friendly, there was an underlying sense of anonymity and efficiency in the workplace culture.
One particular week, I decided I wanted to make people smile, but I wanted to do it anonymously, perhaps with the slight hope that it'd invite a subtle sense of trust or playfulness in the work culture. So one evening, I wrote up a few quotes that have inspired me over the years. The next morning, I went to work a bit early and quickly posted them up by the sinks and mirrors in the office restrooms. Maybe someone else would enjoy the quote as much as I had, and perhaps it might just freshen their day, I thought.
For the next few months, some of the quotes got taken down, but I noticed that a couple remained. So perhaps others liked them, too. :)
Eventually, I finished out my contract with that organization and conditions brought me to other settings. A couple ye
ars passed, during which I'd get an email update from my former boss and teammates every so often.
A few months ago, I was invited to a reunion with my colleagues to hear updates on how the project I had worked on was going. Although I no longer worked in this office building, I had really enjoyed working with my team, and was happy to see them all again. Towards the end of the event, I went to the bathroom, and low-and-behold, the quote that I had written 2.5 years earlier was still up in the same spot by the mirror! It read:
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes." -- Marcel Proust
Maybe the quote simply blended into the backdrop for the veteran employees, or perhaps it still stood out as a shining reminder each time someone went to the restroom.
Whatever the case, it was a sweet moment and reminder that we never know where the ripples go, or how long they last, or how long a seed planted will take to bloom and give fruit-- but to simply keep sowing seeds of kindness from the heart ... nothing less, and nothing more. :)
One particular week, I decided I wanted to make people smile, but I wanted to do it anonymously, perhaps with the slight hope that it'd invite a subtle sense of trust or playfulness in the work culture. So one evening, I wrote up a few quotes that have inspired me over the years. The next morning, I went to work a bit early and quickly posted them up by the sinks and mirrors in the office restrooms. Maybe someone else would enjoy the quote as much as I had, and perhaps it might just freshen their day, I thought.
For the next few months, some of the quotes got taken down, but I noticed that a couple remained. So perhaps others liked them, too. :)
Eventually, I finished out my contract with that organization and conditions brought me to other settings. A couple ye
ars passed, during which I'd get an email update from my former boss and teammates every so often.A few months ago, I was invited to a reunion with my colleagues to hear updates on how the project I had worked on was going. Although I no longer worked in this office building, I had really enjoyed working with my team, and was happy to see them all again. Towards the end of the event, I went to the bathroom, and low-and-behold, the quote that I had written 2.5 years earlier was still up in the same spot by the mirror! It read:
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes." -- Marcel Proust
Maybe the quote simply blended into the backdrop for the veteran employees, or perhaps it still stood out as a shining reminder each time someone went to the restroom.
Whatever the case, it was a sweet moment and reminder that we never know where the ripples go, or how long they last, or how long a seed planted will take to bloom and give fruit-- but to simply keep sowing seeds of kindness from the heart ... nothing less, and nothing more. :)
1686 Reads
- Posted by smileswithhope
- Mar 25, 2018
- Comments (12)
Readers Comments
kjoyw wrote: Such a marvelous post. Yes, the ripples keep going, even if we don't know where. And we have to keep planting those kindness seeds!
splain wrote: Obviously they liked the message because it is still there!! One action could lead to many things and you would never know. I love your sowing seeds of kindness
fairykats wrote: What a beautiful, beautiful post. Thank you.
alisamom wrote: That is such a beautiful post! Thank you so much for sharing this with us
kiwicat wrote: Great post. Im a big fan of sticking up post it notes, and i wonder what happens to them. I love that yours was still there 2.5 yrs later.
leoladyc728 wrote: That was such a great idea and I am glad that the post it is still there.
terre wrote: What a sense of gratification you must have felt when you saw that post still there. Lovely!
Mish wrote: Thank you for planting those seeds of kindness. Who knows how many blooms may have resulted for others and how widespread the ripples.
savraj wrote: This is a beautiful post! Thankyou!
mindyjourney wrote: New eyes <3 <3 and lovely perspective :)). How nice to know that that kind note continues to give it's message...rippling to who knows here!
