April 17 - Best Dressed

Day 107 of a year of Kindness

I bought Samuel a dress. I popped into my favorite thrift store this afternoon. I was browsing the T-shirt rack when I saw two men come into the store. One of the men asked if the teal dress he looked at yesterday was still available because he couldn’t stop thinking about it. The owner, Lori, found the dress. He decided to try on the dress just to be certain. He loved it. While he was paying for his dress, I was trying on some clothes in another dressing room. I could hear how happy he was about the dress. I could also hear that his card kept declining. He asked if he could return later to buy it and she agreed.

I wanted to buy him that dress, but by the time I changed and left the dressing room, he was gone. I went to the counter and asked Lori if I could please pay for the dress. If he never came back, I reasoned, she could just give me a credit. She was so touched that she ran outside to see if she could find him but he had vanished. She rang me up and Samuel now owns a maxi teal dress. She asked if she could take my picture to show him who bought him the dress and I agreed.

These are difficult days for many of us but that young man, who walked into a thrift store wearing a skirt, a blouse and cowboy boots, will probably face more difficult days. I wanted to buy him the dress so that he knew that someone supports and honors his courage to be himself. He deserves kindness.

Science of kindness: Research reveals that acknowledging and accepting people who are different from you is essential for fostering understanding and respect in society. The tapestry of human experiences creates a rich landscape of perspectives. Inclusion is essential to create an environment that promotes equality, respect for human rights, and freedom, creating a society where everyone feels valued and free to contribute. #kindness #kindnessiscontagious #kindnessisfree #bekind