How to Be Kind

Last week, I had a remarkable experience that left me feeling deeply moved and inspired. I was in London, and on a whim, decided to have dinner alone at a busy restaurant on a Friday evening, without my phone in hand. As I sat down, I took in my surroundings, enjoying the bustling energy of the place. I was content to be alone and observe the people around me, but then the couple sitting next to me struck up a conversation.

We soon started to share food and laughter, and I was touched by how kind, fun, and grounded they were. They made me feel like I was part of their world, and I felt grateful for their warmth. The fact that I was alone and had only the surrounding people to observe allowed me to notice things and people in ways I normally do not. It was a reminder of the beauty and connection that can be found in unexpected places.

I finished my meal before they did, and I got up to pay. When speaking with the waitress, I asked her to charge me for the table next to me and not tell them until the end, after I would have left. The waitress was surprised and assumed I wanted to pay for the table on the other side of me, where four young ladies were having dinner. But I said no, the couple is who I wanted to be charged for.

The waitress was touched by the action and we added a dessert with a candle for the couple. As I walked out of the restaurant, I felt a wave of energy flow through me. Then I started to feel emotional and tear up. My heart had been touched by the simple reminder of how the simplest of actions can touch so many people.

The impact of unexpected kindness can be difficult to describe, and is best to be experienced. It can be felt on an energetic and spiritual level. It felt like a deep sense of alignment with the universe, a recognition that we are all connected and part of something greater than ourselves. When we act from a place of kindness, we tap into that connection and feel a sense of purpose, and the joy often accompanied with it.

That evening, the feeling of kindness was a physical sensation for me. It started as a warmth in my chest, spreading throughout my body, and then radiating outwards. It was like a flow of electric energy that connected me to the people and the world around me. It was a feeling of openness, and the vulnerability associated with it.

All of my problems disappeared at that moment.

Kindness is transformative. It has the power to shift the energy of a room, transform a stranger into a friend, and create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the immediate moment. When I am kind to others, I am planting seeds of goodness that have the power to grow and spread throughout the world.

Kindness is not just about doing something nice for someone else. It is also an act of self-care and self-love. When I am kind to others, I am also kind to myself. It allows me to tap into a deeper sense of compassion and empathy, reminding me that we are all human and all in need of connection.

The impact of unexpected kindness can be profound, not just on the receiver, but on the giver as well. It reminds me of our shared humanity and our capacity for goodness. It allows me to see the world through a different lens, one that is open and expansive, and filled with possibility.

As I reflect on my experience at the restaurant in London, I am struck by the power of its simplicity. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, to become disconnected from myself and from those around me. These acts of kindness remind me that we are all here on Hotel Earth together. In a world that can often feel overwhelming and isolating, acts of unexpected kindness can offer a needed glimmer of hope.