A Little Bit of Kindness is What We All Need

Introduction

At Starbucks, I ordered a Vanilla Latte, and the person behind me had no clue that he would get a free cheesecake, and he is also a teacher at Jupiter High School. It felt very good just to make someone’s day for nothing in return; he also told me that he would pay me forward. I even think I made a good impression on who is probably going to be one of my future teachers. Although, his reaction was a bit more than I expected.

A Little Bit of Kindness is What We All Need

The person who was behind me is a teacher at Jupiter High School. He taught 9th grade math. He was a very nice man, but he never told me his name. I gave the cashier an extra five dollars to pay for what the person next in line was ordering. Once the cashier told him that I was giving five dollars for his order, he looked at me, smiled, and gave me a thumbs up. The kind man walked over to me and asked me why I was randomly performing a good deed. I replied by saying it was just a random act of kindness. He said if I go to Jupiter High School, he will surely remember me as the kind boy from Starbucks who paid for my cheesecake.

Soon after the man picked up his order, he asked me questions. He said that the teacher who assigned the project must be a very joyful and cheery teacher. I told him that is exactly what describes her. He said he would “pay me back” as in do something in return somehow. But I denied it and said I must take nothing in return. Then the man asked me what high school I wanted to go to, I replied saying I wanted to go to Suncoast High School. He seemed a little disappointed. Finally, as he was about to leave, he said I was a good man and he told me he hoped to see me again soon, or in two years when I am in high school.

The Power of Random Acts of Kindness

I decided to do this for my random act of kindness because it is not too small or not too big. My thought was that the lucky person who is behind me in line would be happy with what he is receiving. It would not be as common as holding a door for a stranger. I think that it is great that the person does not know he is receiving something; it's a good surprise. It is a unique idea with a nice incentive for whoever receives it. I thought it would be the perfect act of kindness for a stranger. It is also an inexpensive and easy idea.

Indeed, an act of kindness can make you feel nice on the inside, and according to karma, the same may even happen to yourself! After talking to the man, and being complimented for my action, it was a feeling that could not be overtaken. Simply just doing something as little as holding a door for someone can make you feel accomplished. The man said that he would “pay me forward” if he meets me again someday. But I denied his offer; the feeling of the action itself is already enough for me. I do not think he literally meant “pay” me back. It was not just that I felt good inside; it was also fun to see his reaction and how he complimented me.

Lessons Learned

I have learned a lot of things while doing this project. First of all is that doing good deeds without expecting anything in return can make you feel very good inside. Second, doing these small things for others can get you far. Third is that it is these tiny things in life that can reward you later. Last, but not least, it feels rewarding to do something for someone else, even if you do not get a reward that you can hold.

This act of kindness made me feel so good that I would do it again for multiple people. I will do it again; it makes me happy and the person who is getting the incentive. It is a cheap and easy project to do, so you can do it practically as many times as you want, but there are limits to everything.

Conclusion

Overall, I think this was a good experience of doing a random act of kindness for nothing in return. It was a learning experience, but it was also fun to see how he reacted to a big surprise. The person behind me had no idea he was going to get a free cheesecake, but he did because of a random act of kindness done by no other than yours truly.

References

Smith, J. (2021). The Power of Kindness: Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter. Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 233-245.

Johnson, L. (2020). Kindness: Changing the World One Act at a Time. New York, NY: Kindness Publishing.