Yesterday evening I was on the EL train in Chicago. Two men in their early twenties got on and one took the seat next to me. His friend was going to sit in another set of seats. I got up and said, "Oh, here. Take my seat so you can sit with your friend."
When I sat down he said to his friend, "She deserves a hospitality award."
I smiled, turned around and said, "Thank you, but not necessary." To which he replied, "It was cool a thing to do." He seemed so delighted by what to me seemed a rather small gesture.
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I sat quietly for a minute and then had a 'BING!" moment. I reached in my wallet and pulled out a Smile card. I turned towards the young man and said, "Here, please pay it forward." He took the card. I turned to face forward in my seat and behind me heard him say, "Smile! Right on! You should run for President. You know ... Smile - Yes You Can! SMILE - Yes We Can!"
By this time I turned sideways again in my seat so I could face him. The young women sitting opposite us were intrigued and one asked to see the card. The other said, "Oh, yeah! I've heard of this - so cool."
Now, I'm not sure this is how these cards are intended to be used, but the five people around me were so delighted by the Smile card that I gave one to each of them.
Everyone was smiling. And one of the young women said, "This is the happiest train ride I've ever had!" They laughed and talked about how cool and inspiring they found the cards.
"Imagine," one of them said, "if everyone went around doing kind deeds for other people!"
And then a woman got on the train. One of the young men stood up and said, "Would you like to sit down?" She declined the offer.
He was despondent that he had been rejected and suggested it didn't count as an act of kindness because it wasn't accepted. I practically jumped out of my seat when I heard this and explained, "Oh no! It doesn't work that way! The idea is not to be attached to outcomes, to rewards, to praise - it is all about your intention to give to another for the joy of giving."
The response to this was: "Ahhh, yes, that works, that works!" and it seemed we had collective agreement that just because the woman didn't want to sit down it didn't diminish from his act of kindness.
I was grinning from ear to ear with delight. When one of them thanked me profusely I said, "Look, it's mutual! You all have totally made me smile and brought me joy by how excited you are by all this." To which she cleverly joked: "Oh, well then, here! We've done our kind deed!" And she pretended to give the Smile card back to me. More laughter ensued.
The remainder of our journey together we talked, joked and laughed.
Coincidentally, they all got off at the same stop. I reminded them to pay it forward and they all promised to do so - and thanked me for a the joyful journey.
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- Posted by veena1
- Jan 14, 2013
- Comments (29)
Readers Comments
heartwarmer wrote: What a lovely story and a lovely day! Thanks for sharing a great story.
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: What a wonderful kindness adventure! We do indeed have more influence than we realize. Good for you for spreading kindness like you did!
helpinghand wrote: What a lovely story.Thanks for sharing.
Smiley wrote: The world needs more of this. Thank you for being so nice and don't ever stop!
jsmc10 wrote: What a wonderful journey, thanks for sharing :)
BlueSky wrote: Kindness domino effect. I love it. Thanks for sharing.
annjav wrote: That is an excellent experience---(and very well told, too). We all got to take a pleasant ride on the el.
Thaata wrote: Nice use of smile cards. Purpose served. Brought out the impulse to help others and show kindness. Well done, congrats.
Rileybird1 wrote: Do you have enough "smile" cards to send to washington d. C . ? These ladies and gentlemen need all the help they can get. Just look how your experience on the "el" brought a group of strangers together in a joyful way! God bless you!
cassirose wrote: Great story. Wish i'd been there.
