'Your check has been taken care of by someone who wants to remain anonymous.'
These words caught me by surprise last week at a roadside restaurant in Hays, KS. I was making a cross-country roadtrip with my uncle riding shotgun on the way to visit family in Denver. And after 5 hours of driving, we stopped in for lunch.
As we waited for our order, I barely noticed a couple seated nearby. My uncle commented that the fellow wore similar pants to what he's wearing. Our 2 booths may have been the only customers in the place. They were long gone by the time we asked for the check.
Why did they pay for our meal? Don't know if they overheard something of our conversation or what caught their attention. But clearly this was a random act of kindness. With no way to reciprocate.
That one act brightened our day and made a long road trip seem a bit shorter. A small gesture with an outsized impact. Though they will never see this, to them I say 'thank you'. For reminding me of the importance of spreading good in the world.
So I accept the challenge to pay it forward and brighten another person's day. Next time I'm at a drive-thru window, I'm gonna try to remember to pay for the order of the car behind me. And keep the good vibes goin'.
Update: I just took my car to the shop, and a customer there had bought lunch for the entire staff. Smiles all around. Is kindness contagious?
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