Each Monday morning, the nonprofit organization I work for hosts an all staff huddle and each all staff huddle begins with an icebreaker. On a recent call, my colleague posed the question: what’s a good deed that someone has done for you?
I spoke about the man who helped me when I lost consciousness on the subway platform and listened as others talked about neighbors who bring in their packages or friends who make meals that accommodate dietary restrictions.
This is, of course, the best way to begin a new work week.
Later that day, as I jogged toward the park for a quick run, I saw a dresser on the sidewalk, clearly left out for someone to take. It was nice. Turquoise paint on a soft wood. No sooner had I turned the corner was it out of my mind.
A 5k later, I found myself walking past the dresser again, catching my breath and thinking about what I had to do when I got home. That’s when I saw a truck idling empty on the street and an older man dragging the dresser toward it.
You can put the picture together pretty quickly.
I kept walking and then heard the morning ice breaker in my head. What’s a good deed…
Turning around before I could really think of the practicality of the thing: Do you need help moving that?
A blank pause.
I’m not very strong but I can try if you need help moving that.
His face broke out into a smile. No, no he insisted. But thank you. Thank you.
A brief smile. Polite nods. And I picked up my pace again. As I was about to turn down my street, I passed the woman who I’d been walking near for a few blocks and who had passed me after I’d stopped to offer help.
That was really kind of you to offer to help, she said to me suddenly.
Oh, I—
Even though he didn’t take the help. It was so nice of you to offer.
A brief smile. Polite nods. And we went our separate ways.
Would I have been so quick to stop if I hadn’t spent my morning talking about good deeds with my colleagues? If I hadn’t spent that time being reminded that small gestures can go a long, long way?
I suppose it is a good reminder of our power. It is a good reminder that each morning when we wake up, we have the opportunity to make someone’s day a little better. Really best we take advantage of that.
Comments