THe Ripple Effect
I went to a local coffee shop the other day. My order came out wrong, and the young person at the window kindly asked me to pull around so she could fix it. No big deal.
When she brought the corrected order out, I smiled and said, “Thank you so much. I really appreciate you.”
She paused. “May I tell you something? Do you have a second?”
“Of course,” I said.
She took a deep breath and said, “I want you to know that every time you come here, we’re always so grateful because you’re always so kind. I hope you know you’re making an impact.”
And listen… someone must’ve been cutting onions in my car, because I felt the tears start to form.
I just sat there, speechless.
In that moment, I was reminded how often we underestimate the smallest things. We think kindness has to be grand—big gestures, sweeping moments, life-changing acts. But more often than not, it’s the simple things that leave the deepest imprint. Our words. Our tone. Our presence.
That young woman didn’t just make my day; she shifted my perspective.
Her courage to speak up—to tell someone their kindness mattered—was powerful. It was proof that acknowledgment is a form of kindness, too.
We never really know how far our presence travels. A small word, a small gesture, a small act can ripple further than we’ll ever see. That day, her words encouraged me more than she’ll ever know.
Research backs it up. Studies show that kindness doesn’t just affect the giver or the receiver—it impacts the observer, too. Roughly 75% of people are more likely to be kind after witnessing or experiencing an act of kindness. It’s called “moral elevation”—a brain and body response that activates the vagus nerve, releases oxytocin, and builds motivation to do good.
In other words, kindness spreads biologically. When one person chooses light, others begin to glow.
5 Ways to Be the Light
Say it out loud. If someone’s kindness moved you, tell them. Your acknowledgment might be the encouragement they need to keep going.
Notice the small things. Big change is built from small, consistent choices.
Model what matters. Someone’s always watching. Let them see what kindness looks like in action.
Pause before reacting. A moment of grace can turn an ordinary interaction into something extraordinary.
Be the ripple. Every act of kindness creates movement, even when you can’t see where it leads.
As I always say: if you can’t find the light, be the light.
The truth is, you never know who’s watching, who’s listening, or who’s healing because of something small you did without even thinking. Kindness isn’t one more thing, it’s the thing that changes everything.
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