The day had all the makings of a perfect bad day.
There was an important meeting at workplace and I still had some work to do on my presentation. The pervious night I decided to reach office a bit early, to be well prepared. And guess what! I woke up late in the morning and that too after a call from the boss who informed that the meeting was preponed by a few hours.
The tea on the gas stove spilled over as I was a few seconds late in turning it off. I watched the mess on the stove with stunned silence as the tea flowed into small rivulets on the clean kitchen slab. Hurriedly, I cleaned the mess and left home only to realize a few minutes later that I had left the home keys inside. URGH! The bane of self-locking doors. Action plans to get the door to open in the evening had started taking shape and form in my head.
Just as I stepped out of the lift, a boy dressed in school uniform who had forgotten something, I presumed, as he was rushing back into the lift and didn’t want to miss the lift, banged hard into me. I fell on the ground and along with me the lunch containers fell out of the bag and rolled into 3 different directions and my laptop bag landed with a thud too. He mouthed a lot of apologies but didn’t bother to help me pick my stuff. He was determined not to miss the lift. I picked myself up as the eyes brimmed with angry tears.
Thankfully, I found an auto soon and sat as my head started processing the negative thoughts, the self pity along with how unfair the life was… This time, I let the tears slide down by eyes and continued to brood as the auto driver navigated through the narrow roads and by-lanes.
Some times later, the auto driver addressed me and said, “Madam ji”. It broke my reverie and I quickly wiped the lone tear and looked at him in the rear view mirror. Our eyes met in the rear view mirror and he said, “I don’t know what your problems are, but please, believe me when I tell you that – everything will be okay. We all have bad days and struggles in life. But always remember that it will be okay.”
And then he smiled, his eyes shone of compassion and understanding.
At that very moment, the clouds of gloom, the negative mental baggage just vanished. I realized that all the events of the morning which I thought were the beginning of a bad day, in reality were so very trivial and small.
I realized I was overreacting so much. I realized that it was a sign by the Universe. A message was sent to me through this auto driver to understand, to realize, to take action…
I smiled. It was my first smile of the day. But it would not be my last, as from that moment on my entire day had turned around. 
Perhaps without even knowing it, this benevolent auto-driver had contributed in transforming my day. His few words of compassion and understanding, became an important learning for me, for life.
I realized that a smile, a warm hug, a kind word, a gentle touch… they all have the power to transform a day, a life.
When I remember what a few words and a smile of that driver did to me, it inspires me to become a kinder and a more considerate person. That man made a difference to my day that day. He helped me realize that small acts of kindness are never small. They may have undreamt of effects on the recipient.
Has a small act of kindness had an important effect on your life?
Linking it to Write Tribe Festival of Words – 3 : Day 5 : An Inspiring Story
41 Responses
I know exactly how you felt, Shilpa! My life is a series of acts of kindness like these! God bless that autodriver!
Hugs!
You are truly an inspiring woman!! In awe of you! ♥
Yes, God bless that man 🙂
Indeed it’s true… A compliment… Few kind words… Care and concern by absolute strangers… They make you realise that life’s worthy afterall. Beautiful post.
So heart warming! Yours and Vidya’s posts today have sure made things look bright for many of us today 🙂
Wow! This is such a nice piece…perfect for a typical morning reflection over a nice cup of coffee!
Sometimes, a little smile which takes no effort can make a huge difference to someone’s day. Wonder why we do not take the trouble!
God bless that auto driver!
Yes sometimes all it takes is a small gesture of kindness to make you feel blessed! Keep smiling Shilpa 🙂
Oh bless that autodriver…Sure sign from the Universe Shilpa and once you realized the message see how things turned in favor. Beautiful post!
What an amazing experience, Shilpa! I got goosebumps reading this. The power of human connection – thank God, it goes across all lines that we have set up!
sign of unverse it indeed is.. comes in all forms at times the auto – bus driver, ur colleage maid n online bloger friends 🙂
Such people make us feel so happy and thankful for what we have, and we feel happy to give back to society as much love and more , as we get 🙂 Loved his reaction. He could’ve treated you like just any other customer, but he chose to see your pain and respond to it. He’s great ! Wish him all the best ! 🙂
The power of a smile is incredible indeed.Nicely written.
Small gestures through the most random encounters can truly change a person’s life. It was one of the things that made me decide to smile more at strangers this year and even open up and have conversations — because you never know who might need a smile to lift their day! Thanks for sharing this lovely story Shilpa!
God bless that auto-driver! All the auto drivers I mean only curse me for not paying extra fare. Believe me, you are blessed! 🙂
A similar event Shilpa. I was in the MRT train talking to my mom and due to some problem weeping . A lady about to step out handed me a small pack of tissue , gently tapped my shoulder and exited at the next station. I think i will remember her for life
Shilpa I can imagine how bad you were feeling and how just a small gesture, in the form of a smile transformed your whole being. God bless such an inspirational soul!
I am not sure about kindness, but acts of unkindness have surely had an impact in my life! 🙂 We rise by lifting others… and throwing them down? 😛
Destination Infinity
It definitely was the universe trying to reach out to you Shilpa. Its such a wonder from where and how help comes when we least expect it and when we most need it.
Stay blessed.
Shilpa, there was a little angel sitting there up watching you go through the anxieties
and decided to ease out by sending the auto(wallah) to you to transport you physically and mentally to your destination ; to your workplace and peace.
A heart warming post .
I experiment sometimes when down with problems by laughing out loud. It does make a difference.
God bless that auto driver and pass that kindness around when uou see another soul in trouble.
Your story warmed my heart. There really are kind people out there. Sometimes I like to think they are angels walking among us, ready to uplift us when we need it most. ♥
Many many many times over… and I do believe that this has happened to me more than once, if not the nice auto driver part then most definitely the breaking down over small things..
It’s amazing how people can make your day feel that much better.
Shilpa, God bless the auto driver and all such kind and wonderful people who spread so much happiness and cheer by just being good humans. You had a bad start to your day but things improved after your encounter with this wise man, loved your inspiring story.
Sometimes its just a smile that can turn our day around! Keep Smiling!
God bless him. He was definitely God send to make you smile. And hope your presentation went off really well too…. 🙂
You said it , girl, “…a smile, a warm hug, a kind word, a gentle touch… they all have the power to transform a day, a life.”
Yes, these random acts of kindness do make you believe in the goodness of the Universe. 🙂 God bless that driver and God bless you <3
Very true. A smile or a kind word will make your day.
Such a touching incident. Many times when I spot people weeping or sad, I donno what to say. I can’t go and ask them, “is everything alright?” If everything was alright, they wouldn’t have cried right? But small acts like that make so much difference 🙂
The power of a real smile and kind words is indeed magical, thank God for the small hidden treasures like these Shilpa 🙂
oh my dear!! Hugs!! What a horrible start to a beautiful day!!
And you met such a kind and compassionate auto driver! Their breed is dying slowly and you are blessed to have met someone like him 🙂
Awesome!
It’s not everyday you come across people like these!
Beautiful post! Very inspiring! Kindness always leads to happiness. Kudos to that autodriver. Smiles and hugs your way!
It was so good to read your genuine appreciation of what that kind auto fellow said to make your day really cheerful. You must have also felt at that moment, that instead of being annoyed with the small boy who too was in a rush, maybe a word of understanding would have made his day too a little more cheerful.
However, never mind, if such unforeseen incidents happen again I am sure you would know how to pass on the cheer.
Lovely Shilpa!
We rise by lifting others, so true. One can find inspiration through gentle words and it’s so good on the part of the rick walla to lift ur mood. I find it bad manners on the part of the school boy and, at least, he could have helped you. Sometimes, I wonder what’s the real purpose of education. Wonderful post, Shilpa:)
This is so touching. A perfect start to my day, I must say. Even I think that the auto driver was a sign from the universe – to go on no matter what, to tell us that everything always has a good ending. Thanks for writing about it. Cheered me up too. 🙂
“We rise by lifting others” – few words there but so profound. The quote complements and adds weight to the already beautiful story.
Yes, Shilpa. Many times it is not the bigger acts but small acts like that you have mentioned like a warm hug, a smile or even a simple ‘Hi’ makes a huge difference . May you often cross paths with the likes of such people like the auto driver more in your life. Thanks for sharing this:)
Awesome post… How true it is… Most of the times it is some kind words coming even from a stranger bring a smile to our face
What a nice auto driver – truly a Godsend for you. Bless him. So true that sometimes we just need a kind word or even just a smile. Love the quote.
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