A few years ago, my then partner and I decided to take an impromptu trip to Lebanon during the Christmas holidays. Now the way our nationality is set up, one just does not take an impromptu trip; visas are usually a must. Thankfully, the Lebanese visa seemed doable within the time frame, even though I still had to go to the embassy to submit my visa application with the supporting documents.
I had just started a new job and I was technically not able to take time off (the time off for the Christmas holidays was an act of kindness by the powers that be, bless them), so I was going to have to do a quick embassy run during lunch. The embassy was in a different emirate, but it was close enough and I figured most people will still be at work so there shouldn’t be much traffic. Got to the embassy in good enough time as planned, but then, parking. There were other embassies in the area and it seemed they were all having a busy day. It was an unfamiliar area for me so I just made endless loops around the parking zones, willing time to slow down, praying for someone to exit the area and also trying to will my bladder to behave. All of that had me looking like:
After the eighth (I think) loop, it happened. This man walked by my car, pointed at his and beckoned for me to follow him to where he was parked (yassss!!!!). He backed out and gave me his parking ticket, which still had about 42 minutes left on it (can I get another yassss!). Finding the parking meter and the change for it would have been another struggle me and my bladder would rather not go through. This man didn’t even realize how much of a blessing he was to me at that point; he just waved as he drove away. I was there looking at him like:
Ran into the embassy, sorted out my bladder, finished my business there and made it back to my car with about 8 minutes left on the parking ticket (thankfully, the embassy was not as busy as I’d expected). That happened a few years ago and I hold on to that memory and feel the same glow that I did on that day. Random, unexpected kindness. He didn’t have to call my attention to him leaving, but he did. He didn’t have to give me his parking ticket, but he did. A total stranger, and not even from the same continent as I am. The experience taught me a few life lessons:
- Kindness does not have to be a grand gesture for it to have an impact. What that man did was probably nothing to him, but it was everything to me at that moment.
- Be aware of your environment and give help because you can, not just waiting for someone to ask for it. He could have unlooked as he walked to his car and left, assuming that I had my situation under control. I know it’s something I would have done, but now I know differently.
- Being kind to someone does not mean that their days will always be a ball of sunshine, but the warmth of your kindness will always linger on. After I left the embassy, I got into traffic (apparently lunchtime errands is a thing) so I still got back to work late anyway. BUT, I was still riding on my gratitude high ^_^
- When you have kindness done to you, pay it forward. Make it a thing. Now, I look out for people who are doing the parking lot loop, especially in busy areas and if I’ve got time on my ticket, it’s yours if you want it. Of course, this lesson can be applied in all types of public interactions and not just parking lots. Just make it a thing.
- You don’t need to know someone or to want something from them to be kind. I never exchanged words with the man; just gestures and a
n adoringgrateful look from me as he drove away. I don’t even remember what he looks like.
So dear parking lot stranger, wherever you are, thank you, you’re awesome and I pray you continue to find kindness wherever you go.
#YouLiveandYouLearn #Kindness
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