Make a list

A few weeks ago, I decided that I would look back over the previous week and try to write down seven kindnesses that people had shown to me, and seven kindnesses that I had shown. Here is what I came up with:

• A friend called to see how my dog Chance was doing after his surgery
• A checkout clerk in the store complimented me on my earrings
• My daughter-in-law wrote to let me know how much it meant to her to show love to my grandbabies
• A friend sent me a short, funny video about my hometown of Pittsburgh because he knew it would make me smile
• A friend invited me to lunch - just because
• A neighbor brought me homemade chicken soup
• A stranger complimented me on this column

• I helped a lady carry some packages into the post office
• I sent a homemade card to a friend
• I brought flowers to a friend who was home from the hospital after surgery
• I complimented someone on their outfit
• I let someone know how much the gift of a book meant to me
• I listened - really listened - to a friend tell a story about his life
• I said a prayer for a friend traveling

These acts of kindness may not seem like much. They are simple, and they don't take much time or effort. But they brighten our days and make us feel a little special.

Making this list reminded me of my dear husband Steve, who passed away February 12 last year. He taught me a thing or two about kindness. I loved listening to him talk on the phone — to a customer service representative, or when he had to schedule a doctor's appointment, or some other similar conversation. These people were almost always strangers. He was so kind and always treated them with respect. If he felt that they would take it the right way, he would tell a joke. Like when they asked him his birthdate, he would say "November 15, 1940. My birthstone is lava." When the conversation ended, and the person asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" he'd respond, "Just keep smiling." You can imagine how that person felt, right? They no doubt had customers who were less than kind, complaining about this or that. Steve, I am sure, was a breath of fresh air to these folks.

What do you think? Can you take a few minutes, look back on your week, make a list? I bet you will come up with a great one. And remember — kindness is contagious.

Peggie Weeks is a 14-year resident of Fernandina Beach and a member of the non-profit organization Compassionate Fernandina. The organization's vision is "a community in which we treat each other and Earth with kindness, dignity, and respect," and the mission is "to widen the circle of compassion through practical, intentional actions." The city of Fernandina Beach issued a proclamation in 2017 and endorsed the principles of Compassionate Fernandina, joining forces with the organization "to promote compassionate actions throughout the city and to make compassion a clear and dynamic force in our world."

Peggie invites others in the community to share their stories of kindness and compassion. If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer — about a neighbor or friend or business that showed you kindness — please contact her at pegweeks@gmail.com