Kindness Really Is Everywhere

I have two sons. They play competitive hockey, even at the tender ages of 10 and 11. I am therefore at our ice rink every day, sometimes twice a day. I pay $1 to park, regardless of how many times I am there. Every time I pay that $1, I see the same man taking my ticket and $1 bill. He takes my ticket with a smile, wearing his Washington Capitals hat and mask, and says enthusiastically "It's you again! How are you today?" He exudes such incredible joy, and always makes me smile. My kids say he is the nicest man they know. Having seen him day after day, year after year, and not knowing anything about this kind man, I finally asked him his name. "Ude" he said.

Ude is West African. I am not entirely sure where he is from, and given the line of cars often behind me when leaving the parking lot, there's not always a ton of time to chat, but I know that Ude was able to take 3 weeks of vacation recently to see some of his family. I know many like Ude here in the DC area. They've arrived here as refugees, or on asylum, working odd jobs to make a good living and provide for their families here and abroad. I've spoken to immigrants who have seen terrible things -- war, drought, famine. They are so grateful to be in this country. Always, always appreciative of what they have, not concerned with that they don't.

Ude is no different. His entire demeanor is one of positivity. I've never seen him without a smile. It's been five years, maybe more. When I see Ude each night after hockey, he seems incredibly happy to be sitting in a ticket booth, taking my ticket, seeing the same face over and over, handing me my receipt and moving on to the next person. The man is just ebullient. He makes you smile. His energy is so palpable and contagious. My son even said to me one time that he wants to be a ticket taker one day like Ude because he seems so happy and it must be such a wonderful job. Ude sits in his booth for 8+ hours a day. He reads, he watches shows on his phone, and he provides cheer, smiles, kindness and empathy for those who see him each day. Even if I've had the worst day, I smile seeing Ude. During some of the hardest times here in DC, Ude smiles. I once said to him "it's been a tough week" and he'll say "it'll be ok" as if he knew that's all I wanted to hear.

If I was half as successful at making other people feel good as Ude, I'd know my mission to make the world a better place had been met. It doesn't take much to see the brighter things in life, to make our situation the best it can be, to be kind and empathetic. Ude has shown me that in spades.