A routine fasting blood draw was how I started the morning. Fortunately, the first attempt was a success, and the only thing standing between me and my much-needed coffee was the short elevator ride back to the lobby.
As I walked toward the elevator, the doors began to open, revealing a frail, elderly woman inside. Even though I was still several steps away, she held the door open, waiting patiently.
I quickly stepped inside and smiled. “Thank you.”
She returned the smile, her eyes warm. “I don’t believe in closing the door on anyone, even in an elevator.”
In the hush of day,
A stranger’s glance,
Kindness blooms,
In quiet dance.
Her words struck me—simple, yet thoughtful. I chuckled, responding, “We need to clone you.”
She laughed softly, the sound gentle, as the doors slid shut. We rode in silence, but it wasn’t an empty silence; there was a sense of shared kindness in the air.
When the elevator reached my floor, the doors opened smoothly. I glanced back at her, nodding in appreciation. “Thank you again.”
She smiled and mirrored my nod.
Doors slide wide,
Worlds collide,
A nod, a smile,
Then side by side.
As the elevator doors closed behind me, I realized how fleeting everyday moments like this could become etched on the heart. A quiet act of kindness, a passing gesture—simple and subtle—yet it profoundly impacted my day, transforming into a lasting lesson that even the smallest acts of compassion can echo far beyond the moment. Inspired, I’m off to do some good deeds of my own.
Yet in the heart,
It softly stays,
A gentle mark,
Through winding ways.