If I Could... Wait... I Can!

"You can never do a kindness too soon,
for you never know how soon it will be too late."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson


I made someone I don't know cry today - in a good way. Actually, I do know her a little, but only online, and only that for a few weeks now. She's a connection I made through postcrossing.com. After I sent her one of my first postcards, we've gotten to know each other a bit through facebook. I sensed a kindred spirit from the start (creative, sharp wit, compassionate and passionate). So, when she said that her crafting supplies had "disappeared" along with a former relationship, I took a look around my studio and determined what I didn't desperately need. I boxed it up (thank you, USPS, for flat rate boxes!), and sent it to her. It was a collection of some paper, ink, stamps, and glitter. I just couldn't imagine someone with a creative mind being without stuff to play with.


Now, last week when she told me about losing her stuff, it wasn't at all with a read-between-the-lines-and-help-me attitude. Had I sensed such a plea, my return attitude would likely have been too-bad-so-sad. However, she simply put it as I-used-to-do-crafts-but-now-I don't-and-here's-why. So, I immediately decided to hit her with a Random Act of Kindnes in as big a way as I could. It felt great gathering the stuff together. I felt liberated, light-hearted and free. It did me more good than it did her... see where I'm headed here? I didn't let her know, so she had no idea until she went to the post office today. Evidently it knocked her out of her shoes, just as I'd hoped it would.


Normally I don't mention RAKs that I throw out there. It's my belief that when you do a good deed, it should simply be done and not discussed. I only decided to share it this time, because it had such great effect and because I'm hoping that maybe it'll spur others to a RAK attack. Typically my random acts of kindness require or use little to no money. Although the items I sent had some value, it was all stuff that's been hanging around a while that I wasn't really using. So, the real cost to me was only the shipping cost... no big deal. In my opinion and by my definition, a RAK should be just that - low cost and no big deal. It's just a boost to make someone's day a little better. It should also be something that can be done without involving a lot of planning, time, or effort. It's even more fun when the other person is a stranger. It's been reported on the local news here every now and then - someone will pay the toll fee for the car behind them, or buy a cup of coffee for the person in line behind them. I love hearing that kind of news. What if we all did one thing every day like that? Just one thing? Start a RAK attack today.


Ghandi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."


Let's do it. Let's make headlines. Let's change the world... just because we can.