One day, on my way to work, I pulled into the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru. I was tired, hungry, worried about money and bills - as usual! I was behind this woman in a VW with a "Life is Good!" sticker on the back window.
As she put her hand out the window to pay I saw her beautifully manicured nails and the expensive looking jewelry on her arm. Her hair looked like she'd just been to the salon.
My envy immediately kicked in and I started grousing. 'Must be nice!' and various other mean-spirited thoughts went through my mind. I was resentful of her material possessions and her "Life is Good" attitude.
When it was my turn to pay the cashier told me that the lady in the VW had paid for my order! I was told that she regularly goes through the drive-thru, gets a cup of coffee, pays with a $20 bill and puts the balance towards those behind her in line.
I felt grateful and very ashamed of my judgmental attitude. I tried to catch up with her to give her a thank you wave, but she disappeared into traffic.
Since then, I have done similar things on occasion - paying the toll for someone behind me, buying a lonely man a Thanksgiving meal at Cracker Barrel, buying a backpack for a homeless guy. Each time, I remember the lady in the VW and her generosity and realize little things DO make a difference because they cause a ripple effect. Now my mother makes a point of anonymously buying meals for people in restaurants.
Thanks, VW lady. Life is good, indeed!
4863 Reads
- Posted by whitby98
- Mar 8, 2012
- Comments (9)
Readers Comments
Glowworm wrote: What a wonderful way to be jolted out of negative thinking! Kindness does cause ripples, and you are proving that to be a fact.
I've been absent from HO recently, due to discouragement and distractions. Every time I leave and come back, I realize how much I need stories like these!
Thanks for sharing, whitby98!
I've been absent from HO recently, due to discouragement and distractions. Every time I leave and come back, I realize how much I need stories like these!
Thanks for sharing, whitby98!
moral12 wrote: It is great that the lady in the VW was able to steer you in this "kindness" direction. And, even better that you took the lesson to heart and have also been paying it forward. Kudos to you!
heartofflesh wrote: There is something to learn from every human you meet in your life...None appears in your life by accident...
Thank you for sharing and your courage to be honest about the whole incident.
Thank you for sharing and your courage to be honest about the whole incident.
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: We never know when kindness will find us. I am glad that the VW woman passed some your way! :)
Shelleanie wrote: Thankyou for sharing love the idea of letting the balance ride as far as it travels. I have paid for the person behind me several times but love this idea.
annjav wrote: I love this idea too!!! A fine way to give anonymously and cause a great ripple effect. Thanks for sharing, especially admitting that you, too, have days when you aren't a little ray of sunshine! Most of us are like that.
Busygirl wrote: Thank you for sharing a wonderful story of how others can awake kindness in others.
JakesOK wrote: Thanks for the inspiration.
Sabine wrote: This lady was certainly an angel in disguise. I love it how the positive energy of love and compassion spreads and grows stronger with everyone whose life is touched by it. Thanks for sharing the energy.
