empathy

empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another

Sometimes, when we are most bored, a burst of surprise blasts off right in front of our faces.  This happened to me, but the burst was more of the smooth jazz variety.  You could call it a "random act of kindness."

Late Friday night, I was working in the linens department of Macy's --grrrr seasonal jobs-- killing time by sneaking Frangos out of the display box and into random packages of sheets and, well, trying to be a decent help to the customers who deserved it.  One gentleman took delight in my congenial personality and overall helpfulness.  I rung up his purchase and thought no more of it. Five minutes, ten tops, he returned with a Polar bear shaped cookie and a gift certificate to Starbucks. It was a small gesture, but I was tired and it was a long shift, and it seemed like a gigantic burst of surprise. That cookie was exactly what I needed to cure my aching feet. He said that it was his New Years resolution to try and act on more small, compassionate gestures regularly.

What's that saying? Love is a chain...chain of love...something like that. Well, I decided to continue this chain.  One of my co-workers at Macy's is from Chile.  She married a U.S. Marine and moved to the States.  She is thee sweetest person I have ever met.  Some shifts she would tell me about her bouts of homesickness. So, one afternoon I made empanadas and brought them into work for her. Surprise! My empanadas pale in comparison to anything made by a real Chilean, but she loved the gesture anyway.

Here's hoping you experience, better yet inspire, a burst of your own.