Small Acts of Kindness

I was sitting at work in the library today when my Italian professor from last semester walked in. She is an adorable little woman who speaks in slightly broken English, loves her students, and is always interested in learning more about the “Americano” way of life. Last semester she would often ask us students to explain certain phrases or words that did not make sense to her. Most often those explanations ended in laughter.

Today before taking her normal place at one of the back computers, Professor Alfeo approached me at the desk and asked me what I wanted to drink. I looked at her quizzically and she told me that she wanted to buy me a drink. I asked for a hot chocolate, though I was still unsure what she was up to. She smiled and went off, and a few moments returned with the hot beverage, along with a Snapple for my coworker.

“See I remember you like Snapple,” she told him.

“Thanks so much but…why?” I said to her.

“It is because I taka yoga classes,” she said with a grin, “and they teaches us to do these acts of small kindnesses. So this is my smallest kindness for the day….plus I just like you.”

Ken and I laughed delightedly and she smiled even bigger and went on her way. In retrospect, although out of the ordinary, what she did was really quite wonderful. It was simple and easy and made us both happy. Small acts of kindness, as a theory, should be something that I subscribe to more often. Next time she comes in I’m going to return the favor!