Kindness
KINDNESS
BY JENNY M .
Watching a tv advertisement gave me the inspiration for an article for this month ’ s Currents . The ad has no words , and I forget what it ’ s for , but it shows a lonely old woman who has her front door decorated by a neighbour and a broken window latch mended by a teenager while she ’ s out shopping . While watching it , that phrase from the ‘ 90s popped into my head : “ Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty .”
Yes , this has been a year of horror , but it can also be defined as one where ordinary people have shown extraordinary kindness toward others .
The events of the last two years have meant a move from dear Hamburg — home for 20 years — to Brexitland . British homes are the smallest in Europe , and I ’ ve had to give away many things acquired over the years . Two lovely ladies were kind enough to help , Shelly S . from our club and Anja D ., a colleague from the International School . Both ladies are organizers and internet-savvy , and they soon found new homes for everything . Two more kind ladies from our club , Tracy M . and Jess M ., took away books for their local library and scooped up fabric for the heart pillows they make as they left . These were random acts of kindness which I won ’ t forget .
Our members give generously for many causes , as do the parents , teachers , and pupils at the International School , but I have a suggestion for an easy , all-year act of kindness . The British supermarket chain Sainsburys has large cardboard boxes at the checkout for customers to fill with food . It ’ s in Sainsburys ’ interest , of course , as they sell more food , but it means that there is a steady supply of food for homeless shelters . This is such an easy way to show kindness that I ’ m surprised that other supermarkets haven ’ t tried it .
Baking cookies for neighbors isn ’ t my thing ( they ’ d be fed to the dog ) but I can knit . So during lockdown and dreary winter , I ’ m making hats and mittens for children in homeless shelters . A tiny gesture , but one that will help keep them warm . The small things we do for others are helping us cope with this vile year , and we ’ ll keep on doing them for as long as there is a need . Best wishes for 2021 , everybody .
Photo by Jenny M .
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