" it is only kindness that makes sense"

I've been sick the past few days with a bad cold. This probably sounds mild, but it has been hell.

Thursday I tried going to work, but turned around to come home, as I just felt worse the longer I drove. And then I got into a mild fender-bender. The timing could not have been worse, as I barely had the strength to drive myself home - now I had to deal with exchanging information, etc. Clearly I had no business driving. The gentleman whose car I bumped got out of his car and looked at his back fender and mine and could tell looking at me that I was distraught. He said not to worry about this and that there is a reason why they are called accidents. I asked if he wanted to exchange cell phone numbers in case he needed some info, but he said everything was ok and that I shouldn't be upset. After we parted I proceeded to cry like a baby. The tears were in fact tears of gratitude that this stranger was so kind towards me when I really needed it. We hear so much about road rage, particularly during rush hour. Well, this gentleman extended a huge amount of kindness during rush hour to someone who really needed it.

On Friday, I made it into work for a 1/2 day and was able to do some basic things, but was really only there in body and not so much in mind or spirit. Fortunately I did get some work done. After work I went to the last session of my nature photography course. It was a great group of people, so a bit sad for it to end. I've since reached out via email to a woman in our group to see if she would like to meet up to take photos at some point. And there was a man in our group I had a crush on, but I haven't yet decided if I'll reach out to him.

So today is Saturday and I'm a bit grumpy because of this cold. I went out to do a few errands, but forgot my ID so I couldn't pick up some medication that I need. I stopped to get coffee and water at Starbucks (I'm trying to break this expensive habit) and it wasn't until I got home that I saw that the barista wrote "Feel better Rachel!" on my cup : ) I feel better just reading what she wrote.

The kindness of strangers can be amazing. Our world needs more kindness.

Kindness
Naomi Shihab Nye, 1952

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.