Show Us Your Life - Random Acts of Kindness

Jake's here again.  This staff writer gig of mine isn't too shabby.  Kelly's Korner hosts a weekly Show Us Your Life series and this week's topic is Random Acts of Kindness.

Alison asked me to share with you today the story that I told her over dinner last night.  It involves baseball but hang in there because this is not a sports post.  Ever heard of Armando Galarraga?  Yeah, Alison hadn't either.  He is my current 'man of the year' pick.  He's a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and he seems to be the nicest, most understanding person in the world of sports.   

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In Baseball history, there have been 20 perfect games.  Ever.  A perfect game is the ultimate accomplishment for a pitcher.  Galarraga threw a perfect game earlier this week but he will never receive credit for it.  During what should have been the very last play of the game, the umpire made a blatantly incorrect call that ended Galarraga's perfect game.   In baseball, officials' calls are not challenged or revised so Galarraga's chance to complete his once-in-a-lifetime perfect game was ruined. 

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Galarraga's reaction to seeing his dream slip by him was true perfection and is truly where today's story begins.  Armando Galarraga smiled, chuckled, and finished the game.  Afterwards, he did not blame the umpire.  He did not rant about how unfair the game is.  The next day he went out in front of the hometown crowd and shook hands with the umpire before the game.  Through his immediate reaction and the days following he has handled himself with grace and dignity.  At the precise moment he lost his perfect game, he demonstrated a poise and understanding previously unrecognizable in sports. 

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This post is to talk about Random Acts of Kindness and this story demonstrates just how random the opportunity to act with kindness can arise.  In that split second, Armando Galarraga could have easily decided to blame the umpire for robbing him of his dream.  Instead, he acted like a adult should and accepted that the umpire made a mistake.  Major League Baseball will not reverse the umpire's call.  General Motors rewarded Galarraga for his sportsmanship and professionalism by giving him a red Chevy Corvette. 

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Each day affords us the opportunity to choose our actions and do something simple to brighten someone else’s day.  Open a door, offer assistance, be courteous, offer a compliment, say hello, invite a coworker to lunch, call a family member or friend and really listen.   These simplest demonstrations of kindness and respect don't have to require extra time or money; it just takes recognition that we all contribute in each other’s happiness.  If we all strive to make each other’s days brighter, then we’ll all Welcome Sunshine more often.

Thanks, Jake!  :)  I'll take over from here and share my favorite random act of kindness...  SMILE!

I traveled by car from northern Maine to Florida during spring break 1994.  Everywhere we went I made a point of making eye contact and smiling at all sorts of people along the way.  I don't remember what prompted me to do this.  I remember feeling nervous about it at first but by the second or third day into the trip it felt normal and natural.  Most people smiled back!  Granted back then I lived in a town where you didn't lock your doors at night and was (and often still am) a bit naive about the nasty evils of the world.  If you live in fear, you are not living so I'm ok with being naive and happy. 

Now get out there and do something nice this weekend!