Kindness can be given back in the simplest of manners.

A few days ago my mother sent me the link to an article about two young men traveling the country in an effort to promote random acts of kindness. These include anything from buying people ice cream to paying for their laundry at a laundromat.

I love hearing stories like this, because I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of a random act of kindness.

I went through a stressful period at the beginning of my freshman year of college. I was trying to find a balance between my classes and all the activities I had going on outside of school. As a dedicated student, the stress of trying to give everything my best was beginning to wear on me. On my way home one night, I stopped at a gas station to fill up my tank. When I went inside to pay, the girl at the checkout informed me that the man in front of me had already paid for my gas. I got into my car and cried. It was such a generous and thoughtful gesture, especially since the man was there with what appeared to be a van filled with his family.

Over the past week, I have encountered myself in two interesting situations involving animals in need of help. I wouldn’t necessarily call these random acts of kindness, but rather circumstantial acts, more-so.

Several years back on our way to the lakes, my mom and I passed by a turtle in the middle of the road. We turned around to grab him and put the poor little guy in the ditch, only to watch him get squished by another car, right before our eyes.

Ever since then I have had a turtle paranoia. I hate seeing animals dead on the roadsides, so I find myself constantly scanning for turtles on our way to the lakes. Continue reading →