This morning I went to the market looking for the cotton face masks. When I got to the checkout, I watched the customer before me yell at the women at the register because his credit card was not working ( like that was her fault). I could see the tears about to fill the cashiers eyes. When it was my turn I asked if they had any more face masks left, unfortunately they were all sold out.

Just as I was about to get into my car, one of the young kids that works at the market came running out. He handed me a new mask wrapped in a paper towel. I had a big smile. The cashier who had just been yelled at by that customer made a point to find me a mask. Even though they have been sold out.

Pure acts of kindness to a stranger (me) who she did not even know, that gave my heart a reminder that even in times of sadness….kindness wins.

The biggest lesson I try to instill with the kids in my class is kindness.

Kindness is a lesson we can start at any age.

I find that often it is easy to focus on the behavior that we want to change, the hitting, the yelling, the pushing. But so much of that comes with age.

Focus on all acts of kindness. Kind hands, kind hearts, kind words, kind actions. Give big thank yous to all kind acts. High five all attempts to be kind to a friend.

Today in class I watched one boy give his bike to another boy because he knew his friend likes the bike with the yellow pedals.  I made sure all the kids knew how kind it was to watch him make his friend so happy…..the rest of the day the boy continued with kind actions.

Our young children learn from example. They love praise and recognition. Continue to recognize all acts of kindness, big or small. Kindness will become a natural instinct.

When the women at the grocery store made sure I got the new mask…. I bet she did not know I was having a tough morning and that her small act of kindness gave me the hope I needed to remind me….life is good

Love… Happiness…Kindness