This week's challenge is inspired by an interaction I had with someone at the grocery store back in April. Here is my Instagram post about it.
The Inspiration:
I was at the grocery store with my husband. I needed to get some pita bread, but this old man was blocking the way. I said, “Excuse me” and began to reach for it. I already had it in my hand, but he helped me get it down. It was a small but kind gesture and I really appreciated it.
Not too much longer later I was in the aisle with the various sodas and electrolyte drinks. I was waiting for my husband who had gone off to find some chicken strips and I saw this old man again. He was standing in front of these cans and seemed to think that I wanted a package.
He offered to get one down for me, saying that he likes to feel useful because his wife is in the hospital and she’s always done everything for him, this is the first time he has had to go grocery shopping by himself. I told him that I needed the blood-orange-flavored soda and he reached the cans down for me.
I didn’t really need anything from that shelf, but at that moment I saw a sad man looking for a way to contribute, to be helpful, and I didn’t want to take that away from him. Yes, I could’ve gone and put the cans back, or I could have told him no and asked him to get something else, but I didn’t want to disrupt him as he told me the story. The man was gone before my husband got back, but this interaction really meant a lot to me. It was a small gesture to make a difference for me.
The Challenge
Create a story about a small, seemingly insignificant, gesture that changes the world. Take me through a ripple effect or maybe the small gesture means information gets into the right (wrong) hands and puts an end to something awful.
Comments