'Act of Random Kindness'
Indranil Das, ICF PCC, ORSCC
Leadership Solution & Advisory | Executive Management | Business Advisor | Coach | Mentor | Speaker | Visiting Faculty
‘No, we don’t take credit card for 6 Krona’, notified the shopkeeper in the Tobak shop in Stockholm (like Kirana store in India).
I needed to pay for a small envelop for the post that I was sending. I took it for granted that Sweden is a completely cash free economy and here I was, up for a surprise.
‘You can buy other stuff from the store, if you want and pay with your card’, continued the shopkeeper.
Pondering on what to buy more from the small store, I was about to step aside from the counter. There was a lady behind me waiting eagerly; she mentioned something to the shopkeeper in Swedish and the shopkeeper gave a bizarre expression. Maybe I was blocking other customers next to me in the line, I thought.
I asked, ‘what happened?’.
The shopkeeper said ‘She (the lady behind) will pay for you.’
I looked at the lady behind me again – no, I do not know her, she does not seem to be from my locality either.
‘No, please don’t’, I cajoled.
‘It’s nothing, just 6 Krona, don’t even worry’, the lady mentioned with an infectious smile.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, absolutely’, a waiving insignificant hand gesture from the lady.
As I came out of the shop, I realized that I did not even ask her name or where does she live. I just said one more ‘Thank you’, before leaving.
Coming out of the shop, reflecting in the glory sunshine after days of snow showers; I suddenly remembered that years ago I attended an ‘Art of Living’ meditative session, where we were enlightened about ‘act of random kindness’. My joyful self, told myself – this is how it looks like, Act of Random Kindness.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I can also practice and live the joy of act of random kindness every day? At least I should try …
Do you have similar ‘Act of Random Kindness’ experiences, from where you live or travel to? Would love to get enlightened more … please share.
Business Strategist | Executive and Leadership Coach | Career Transition Coach | Speaker | Global Coach Group Partner | Sales Trainer
4 年Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story, Indranil Das. With acts of random kindness and random acts of kindness, this world can become such a joyful and beautiful place.
VP Program Management @ Citi India | Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery
4 年Exactly the same thing happened to me in Krakow, Poland. I was on my way to work and suddenly developed some allergies due to which I needed tissues. I stepped into the friendly neighborhood store which is run by a few local ladies and the tissues are only 30-40 grozie which are equivalent of 30-40 paise. I normally carry change on me but I had changed my jacket on that day and didnt have any. As you mentioned, I also had a queue of ppl behind me and was about to step out thinking I could manage without the tissues. At that time an aunty who stood behind me in line stepped up and paid for my tissues. Unfortunately I could muster nothing more than "Dzienke" in Polish because they all spoke only Polish. I will never ever forget that random act of kindness that day and it made my day and put a smile on my face that I couldn't get off. Thank you for helping me relive that day Indranil.
With a Decade of experience in Process Mapping and Data Driven Implementation across various Organization
4 年There are many small events in life in some of them others stepped in to help and then there are few where I returned the gesture to other unknown individual. What I like in both the scenarios the warmth heart felt. There's hope of love and care
Fractional Chief L&D Officer (part time, contract), Executive Coach & Trainer - Sales & Revenue growth
4 年Great share Indranil Das , just awesome. Keep writing more. My act of kindness is that I regularly check and wish my network a heartfelt birthday wish. Some people respond back, some don’t. But I don’t stop wishing them almost everyday.
Big Data Integration Developer | Cloud | Java | Python | Go | Microservices
4 年This is my story, 2007 Jan 10th I was in a shared auto to attend cognizant interview at mindspace, Hyderabad. we were two people in the auto. Unknow (not anymore) lady and myself. we both are going for the same interview. I just had 50 rupees note in my hand no card, no change. Auto fare was just 5 rupees from main road. When we got down from auto, driver said he don’t have change for 50. I started arguing with him and it is not going anywhere. Immediately that lady gave extra 5 rupees to the driver for me. We went for the interview hall and unfortunately we got to move to different rooms m. after that I could not find her. I cannot forget her face and favor. I got that job and started my IT career. When ever I get to help some one I remember this and get inspiration. It is good that I did not pay her back. I can have this memory with me forever to help others.