Kindness












I truly love India! People here are so kind and genuinely want to help even if we do not speak the same language. Their gestures and expression say it all.

Yesterday on the bus, a woman was getting off the bus and told me to sit in her seat because she saw that I was standing for a long time. She blocked everyone from sitting down so that I could have a seat. I really appreciated it. It is hard to stand on the bus with all the bumps and sudden stops. Then I was about to get off the wrong stop and 2 women stopped me and gestured to me that it was the wrong stop. How they knew, baffles me. There are so many stories such as this one. Another example is at our local grocery store. As soon as we enter, they are there to help. They help us find things and make sure they are at a good price. I was looking to buy some french fries and the person at the grocery store showed me the bag that had the best value. Truly kind gestures that are not necessary but are done none-the-less.

Most of you reading this blog know me really well and know that I am not about giving or receiving gifts but kind gestures whether it be a nice note, some kind of tea if you are sick, or making a dessert. I have found that in India making banana bread or writing a nice note or giving people this herbal medicine has gone a long way. People really appreciate it. I may never be able to personally thank the countless women on my bus rides (my new mode of transportation) but I hope that my small gestures of kindness to others will reach them somehow.

Even James and Ashram have picked up on the small gestures of kindness. John has always had it and is very kind and thoughtful everyday and now it looks like we are all catching up:-) We all truly live by the words from the Chinmaya Mission Pledge "give more than what we take." James loves these candies called polos and wants to give it to all his classmates. Ashram bought these horses for his friend Larissa and they exchange stuffed animals all the time. Again, John does something nice for someone every day. Today, he cracked all the walnuts for me so I can make banana bread.

Banana bread has become my all time favorite gesture of kindness because people seem to really love it and the expressions of delight says it all. John and I also always make sure that we make tea for our housekeeper and keep out some biscuits. Today she even sat at the table with me. I was thrilled. This is a long story but in general people who complete services for you don't sit at the table or where you are. They sit on the stairs or stand. It is a long story with a long history. But I am so glad that she is starting to understand or I think that she is, that we don't follow those traditions.

In short, small, random acts of kindness go a long way whether it is for my mentor, the security people, the grocery store helpers, my neighbors, or the principal, it is appreciated just the same.

Tea and biscuits for our cleaning person
Cracked Walnuts


Polo candies


Packets of 14 Herbs that you can put in your tea when you are sick
Cards I brought from home to write little notes to people.

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