I had to deal with a flat tire today. 2023 do be like that for me. I was out of options, had no time, too many obligations to do what I needed to do in the time given to me.
To my surprise, my uncle offered to help. To my even bigger surprise, he had all the tools needed and took the time to help me. We got the wheel off, had it repaired, put it back on, all was good. I was surprised to see that he had all the tools needed to do this.
As we are finishing up and tightening the bolts, he drops on me that he is repaying me for 2014. He tells me that back then, me being available to drive and help him with his flat tire, complete with me (at that time) having all the tools to do so when he didn't, is what inspired him to get his own set and to offer assistance to others. I had completely forgotten I had done this. I did it as a matter of course. Of course I was going to help. I could.
My "matter of course" Tuesday that I forgot about from almost a decade prior was a transformative life event that taught things of lasting and enduring value to him. It changed his world.
I simply made a practice of kindness. I made it rote. I made it something routine. By doing so, I may have touched lives permanently in ways I can't even fathom. That's why it's important to do so. And at the end of the day, I can never predict how that kindness is returned to me in time.
