On Sunday one of the founders of Kind Spring, an organization spreading principles and act of radical, pay it forward kindness, invited my spiritual community into a 21-day practice of Radical Kindness. "This will change you," he said, after sharing his astounding stories.
I was so excited to start yesterday, with each day coming with an assignment. The first was to gift a treat or $5 anonymously to the next person in line at a coffee shop, store or toll booth.
After having a few scarcity tugs while standing in line at the coffee shop (do I really give five dollars? What about three or four?) I gave the full five dollars to the cashiers, and instructed them to gift a drink/treat to the next person that came in. The cashiers were all smilely about it, and I hid myself at a corner table to see what would happen. It blew me away, with all of its fractals of meaning. When the next woman came in and was informed, she exclaimed "what?!" And, then, to my surprise, she said, "I'd like to give for the next person."
I pretty much cried. I sat there for twenty more minutes as the next two strangers received the gift, and each decided to pay it forward. I found myself wondering, what is possible here, when I "Let It Begin with Me?" At the end of the day, I'm the one within my own sphere of influence that can begin the cycle of generosity, with a gift or even within a conflict. And completely flavor the experience of interdependence. And who knows what could be possible with each of those acts?
Here we go. I'm hooked.