Faith renewed in random act of kindness!
I don't know about you, but sometimes you need a reminder that there are genuinely good people in the world, and that they may just be sitting right in your chair.
As a small business owner, specifically as a hair salon, you see, hear and experience of a lot of drama. Although we do try and keep the energy positive and uplifting sometimes life just hits you right square in the face.
Today, was not one of those days. I was cutting one of my regular clients while the stylist next to me was just finishing up on his client. As his client stood up to walk away, she mentioned how she hoped her new look would help her get a job. This is where the good part happens...my client overheard this and as soon as the other client wasn't able to hear her, she said to me "Don't let that lady pay for her services today, I'm going to pick up her tab." Of course, I was so surprised and asked, "do you know her?" and she said "no, I just heard her say she didn't have a job." so I replied, "are you sure?" "she had a hi-light and a haircut." My client then said, "absolutely, whatever it totals."
The client was told that it was "on the house", per the instructions of my client who wanted to remain anonymous. After she left, I told my client just how wonderful she was and thanked her. I further explained that in my 23 years of doing hair, I had not witnessed such a thing before. She then said to me, "you know, I've had some things happen in my life that people were there for me. One time I will always remember was when it was just a complete stranger who patted me on the shoulder and told me everything was going to be okay, when he saw me upset." "It's the least I can do."
Little did my client know, that the lady she paid for had recently gone through some very traumatic events in her life. Or, maybe on some level, she did know ~ who's knows. But what I do know is that it has renewed my faith in human kindness at a time I needed it most.
So, there you have it. There are good people in this world ~ out there paying it forward. Now, she has made me want to do the same thing.
Roger Jennings
9:37 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
Walking home from the MARTA station the other day I was interrupted by a rather well put together gentleman. He arrested my stride with “Pardon me, good evening.” I normally avoid anyone stopping me on the street for any reason as I surmise that they always want money and I console my liberal guilt with knowledge that almost all homeless outreach organizations are clear in the fact that money is more effective when donated to an organization than individuals. This gentleman, however, presented a different face on the problem.
Tony told me that “I am recently homeless, but I work, I just got a job and, in fact I am just leaving work but I haven’t been paid yet.” He continued “I am not proud of the fact that I need help right now, my hours mean that I miss dinner at he shelter where I live. If there is any way you could see yourself clear to help me get some dinner, I would be very appreciative.”
Maybe it was that he was polite, perhaps it was that his approach was not something I had heard before, perhaps it was the knowledge that very little in the cosmic sense separates my life from his, but for whatever reason my only response was “let’s walk over to Jason’s.” pointing across Piedmont.
I bought Tony the salad bar and an Ice Tea for me and tried not to think about the things that separate my struggling life on disability from that of a well dressed man who doesn’t have a home and depends on the kindness of strangers to eat.