Defining Kindness

Define Kindness:

I score a woman's basketball league every Wednesday night and have done so for three years now (minus COVID isolation).  I enjoy the women and watching the games very much so it makes it easy for me to set up for them and go the extra mile such as making sure the floor is swept, having first aid supplies on hand, sanitizer on hand, and whatever else to make it better for them and the refs when playing.  A number of times the girls have gotten hurt, from a minor cut needing a band-aid, to one woman hitting her head on the floor so hard she got whiplash.  This is why I started bringing first aid supplies with me when setting up.  Also being trained in first aid I am able to help them right away and make sure they get the right help when needed when I have the right supplies.

Almost every week a woman and her husband come and watch the game in which her daughters play.  These women aren't kids, teen-agers, and I don't think they're in their early 20's.  I'm guessing between mid 20's to early 30's.  I love that their mom (three of the girls on one of the teams are her daughters) come and watch them and encourage them on a weekly basis.  About a month or so back,  she and I got talking about our Yeti's and how much we love them.  She asked me if mine was purple, but it isn't.    It was the same blue/green one she had.  (I have purple hair and like to wear purple, but truth be told, green is probably my favorite color. Unnecessary info? Yup) We chatted briefly and then I was off to score.

Last week, I was setting up and she was waiting in the hallway with her husband.  I told them they could go on in while I was setting up.  She said "You're just the person we wanted to see".  She explained how she and her husband noted what I did for the girls, particularly the girl who hit her head on the floor.  She needed ice right away and the ice pack I found was like a rock and hurt her more than the injury did, so I found a bag of frozen vegetables and used those to help her.  Hmm, probably should replace those now that I think about it.  Anyway, she made a joke about the improvisational first aid I made as well as commenting on how much I helped and she told me she had a gift for me.  She stated, "It isn't much, but it's something to let you know you're appreciated".  She handed me a purple bag and inside was a purple Yeti.  My heart was filled with lots of gratitude.  Isn't much?  Oh but yes it is.  I don't care if it cost  .25 cents, the thought in this and the appreciation for what I do is more than enough in itself.  I thanked her for her kindness and told her it meant more than she knew.  And truly, it does.

Define Kindness:  The act of acknowledging someone for what they do with a spontaneous thoughtful gift that has more meaning than any money could buy.