Several years ago, I talked with a contractor who enjoyed performing what he called "random acts of kindness." It sounded like a great thing to do, but I've never been that "kind" until having experienced one such act myself.
Last week, I was traveling in Oregon right next to the Columbia River and the border with Washington. The toll to get from Oregon to Washington over a bridge was 75 cents. No big deal, but as I fished out the change, the toll gate operator motioned me through saying, "The car ahead of you paid for your toll."Â Cool, I thought, but before I could gesture a thank you to the driver, the generous operator and the car had disappeared.
Ten minutes later, I realized what I should have done, and that was pay the toll for the car behind me. So neither am I kind, nor fast. Anyway, as one thinks about the recession, the slow-moving simulus packages, and the unemployed, there's room for acts that demonstrate both kindness and generosity.
Hey, maybe that's a key to recovery. No, three quarters don't count for much, but they sure made my day, and I may have been more generous with a restaurant or two because of them. I guess the point is, we can't depend totally on the government and its financial wizards to bail us out of this mess. We can help oursleves by spreading a little economic kindness, which, in turn, will help boost our faith in fellow man and keep what money we have circulating.
Rod Dickens, PRO Senior Editor
Random Act of Kindness
July 1, 2009