Today's Random Act of Kindness was me speaking very cheerfully & politely to my former next-door neighbor. She's as sweet as she can be, and very very kind. But she is elderly, and like many other persons of her particular generation, she deems me as far beneath her solely because of my age. It's not the words she says. It's not the tone she uses. It's just the air about her and her body language. I feel like she expects me to feel grateful for the opportunity to learn from her wisdom. And honestly.... she is a SUPER nice lady. But I am somewhat solitary in my living preferences, so I don't necessarily appreciate the uninvited conversation of my neighbors. You leave me in peace, I leave you in peace. I know that's not exactly "nice" of me. But it is what it is.
Anyway - when she came over today as I was hurriedly moving boxes and furniture into my car and the bed of a co-worker's truck, I was VERY polite to her. And I talked to her with a smile on my face. And I said "Thank you" to her as she left.
Yes, I do agree with you, that this is simply commonplace good manners. And this is how I should treat ALL of my conversational partners. However, if you know me at all, you know that talking to me while I am in the middle of strenuous physical activity is NOT the time to expect me to be Susie Sunshine.
And therefore, I declare my display of extreme good manners to be a wonderful Act of Kindness.
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