EDITOR’S NOTE: Community kindness – we can all use a little more kindness in our lives. Let’s celebrate these “micro-moments” of kindness that make our days a little easier, a shared smile, a helping hand … tell us about the connections you make in our community, editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net.
By Deb Montgomery
Kindness is getting a bit elusive these days. I hear more stories, and tell them myself, of people passing over a double line on the highway and endangering themselves and those around them with whatever rush they are in or surge of emotion they are experiencing. The highway is just one example of how stressed we are getting. And if I’m honest, I know that their are days that I metaphorically pass someone thoughtlessly because of my own shit. It happens. But sometimes, and hopefully often, we are capable of great kindnesses even in simple ways.
I was driving my Delica L 300 to Tillamook for a routine screening and figured I could fit in a quick stop at the Garibaldi Touch-Less Car Wash. When I pulled in I was happy to find no other cars in line until I spotted the orange cone blocking the car wash entrance. It took me a minute to realize it was closed even though it was only 10am. Sometimes you just don’t want to believe something because you want something else to be true! So, I poked my head in the little fish cleaning office to see if anyone was around. Nope.
I was just about to leave when a man with a rag in his belt said, “Cool vehicle. Where is it from?” “Japan,” I said. “It was imported to Vancouver Canada and sold to a guy and then, a couple years ago, I bought it for a great price from the guy who bought it there.” My new stranger friend explained that the carwash wasn’t working and told me to come back another time. We chatted for a few more minutes about cars and life stuff. I said goodbye and as I was turning to leave, he told me to pull my van around to the carwash and he would see if it might work this time. “It’s been working half the time!”, he said. So me and my van slowly made our way through the buzzing lights of red and green while being sprayed sideways and hitherto.
As I exited the carwash, he motioned for me to drive around to the manual one because the soap rinse didn’t work. He proceeded to spray Roo down with water. When Roo was ready to go, I asked for his name. Then I thanked Dwayne for his kindness. I also let him know that I am a Life Coach here on the Coast and if he wanted a free coaching walk to let me know.
These moments between humans are crucial to us all finding our way. You and I don’t know how powerful a simple act of kindness can be for a stranger. We don’t actually know what anyone is going through, what their story is or what heaviness they might be bearing. I’m guessing there’s a lot that Dwayne and I do not have in common, but it didn’t stop Dwayne from offering me something that day and it didn’t stop me from receiving the offer and having a sweet moment in time with him.
Deb Montgomery is a Songwriter and Certified Life Coach.
www.debmontgomery.com
www.debmontgomerylifecoach.com
www.travelandtalk.com
