I know there are kind people all over the world, but there are certain things that come across my computer that leave me thinking, “That could only happen in North Dakota.”
Or maybe it’s a small-town thing. I don’t really know, but isn’t it nice to hear that goodness still exists in our communities and people will go out of their way for others?
Take, for example, this story sent in by Dori Palmer from Wahpeton, N.D.:
“One year ago I went to a garage sale in Wahpeton. I was in a hurry, and was waiting in line to pay for my purchases. I started talking to a number of people I know as I was paying for my items and in the distraction completely forgot my change.
“This year I was at a garage sale at the same location. As I was shopping, the lady having the sale approached me. She had an envelope with money in it. She handed it to me and explained that I had left it last year and she was hoping I would return so she could give it to me.
“That was so special to me to experience that kind of caring. I went out and found a few kind deeds I could do to pass it on. I paid for the candy a child was purchasing, and I paid the remainder of a bill a lady owed on her purchase so she would not need to look for change to cover it.”
How remarkable is that?
And how about this sweet act of North Dakota Nice from John Challey?
“My wife and I stopped to get a couple of grocery items. As I helped my wife into the store, I stopped to pick up a dropped envelope. It was sealed with a girl’s name on the front. I held it up to the light and could see cash.
“I stopped to drop it off at the courtesy counter before rejoining my wife. Out of nowhere, in the middle of the frozen foods aisle, I was swamped with a hug from a woman I don’t know. My wife looked at me as if to say, ‘Now what is that old fool up to?’
“The three of us talked for a moment and the woman explained the money in the envelope was for her daughter’s prom dress. She says she doesn’t make very much and was in a panic mode before claiming it at the lost and found. Then she hugged me again. I still get a smile and a warm feeling every time I go to the frozen foods section.”
Kindness has a way of warming us from the inside out. If you have a story of kindness from North Dakota or anywhere else in the world, I sure would love to read it and share it with others.
Kindness not only leaves us feeling good about our communities, it also has a way of becoming contagious.
Please continue to share your stories of kindness with me at info@nicolejphillips.com. Or send a letter to Kindness is Contagious c/o Nicole J. Phillips, The Forum, 101 5th St. N., Box 2020, Fargo, ND, 58107.