My heart was pounding, my turn at the drive-up window was next. I drove up and as the cashier gave me my total I asked how much the car behind me was. “$5.50” Ok, how about the car behind them? “$11”. Can I get all that with this $20 bill? Yes! I felt a surge of adrenaline shoot through me.
Then I drove away.
I could get addicted to the nervous excited feeling. I had no idea if the people behind me were independently wealthy or if they scraped together all their extra change for a special treat. And it didn’t matter. It wasn’t my job to decide if they were worthy or deserved my gesture. I was giving freely because it gave me a rush to know that their day was going to be brightened and we were connected, even for the the minute that they received the news that their order had been paid for.
I’d like to imagine that they would be inspired to pay it forward. But if they weren’t in that moment I’m confident that the seed was planted that kindness inspires kindness. It’s contagious. Actually it is KINDagious.