This morning I attended the Rachel's Challenge seminar at the Penrose House in Colorado Springs. Darrell Scott and his wife Sandy started Rachel's Challenge to honor their daughter Rachel Joy Scott, who was the first victim to be shot and killed during the Columbine shooting on April 20, 1999. Their intent is to honor Rachel's life and help prevent other families from going through what all of the Columbine families had endured. Their focus is telling people around the world how Rachel deliberately reached out to those who were different from her, new to school, picked on by others, or just lonely, and in doing so inspire the change she hoped to see in the world.
Rachel's Challenge is to start your own chain reaction of kindness and compassion because that was Rachel's goal and mission in life. A quote from Rachel's essay "My Ethics, My Codes of Life" which she wrote only a month before her death, she clearly describes her wish, "I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go." Coming from a young high school girl, this is pretty powerful stuff.
I encourage you to visit her website when you get a chance. I feel like my life has been forever changed after this morning.
Now, to share my story. It seems as though Rachel and I have something in common, spreading kindness. I actually find it very strange that I wrote this email to a friend almost exactly a month ago today. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I live each moment of my life like this, but I am inspired every once and a while to make a difference in others lives through kindness and I wanted to share this example with you. Who knows maybe it will inspire you!
Below is an email I wrote to a friend a few days after it happened:
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
To: Susan W.
From: Emily S.
Also – let me share a story with you that I haven’t told anyone else!
I flew into Salt Lake City Thursday and realized I had a 3 hour layover, after spending the past month in and out of airports you might understand my disappointment and frustration realizing this. But then, I decided to just accept it and try to think of my wait as time to relax. I walked all over the airport, did some pleasure reading for about an hour, and then decided to looking for a place to grab a glass of vino. I guess some other people had the same idea cause the restaurant I found was packed.
I sat down at a single table along the wall and pulled out my book. When the waiter finally got to me he seemed quite flustered, I felt for him immediately. I ordered a single glass of wine and water. It took about 10 minutes for it to come. At that point I could have decided that this place had terrible service and choose a negative attitude, but instead I decided to observe. I took in the people around me, the other waiters, customer’s attitudes, food choices. I tried to take it all. I came to the realization that this place was filled with people thoughtlessly stuffing their faces before catching their flights; everyone seemed to be in a hurry, unhappy, tired. My waiter was no exception. Bickering with his coworker, doing his best to meet the needs of his customers, he was practically running from table to table, this place was clearly understaffed. I decided to kill him with kindness - every time he came to my table I did my best to engage him in conversation, smile, use ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’. For some reason I just felt really bad for the guy, he didn’t seem very happy, who would be slaving away in an airport restaurant?
I read my book for a while, enjoyed my wine, and took a minute to think about how I could change this dude’s attitude. So here’s what I did… for a $12 bill, I tipped him $10 and wrote a note on the receipt, “A smile goes a long way! You’re doing a great job, keep it up.”
I smiled at him as I walked out, wondering what he would think of my random act of kindness J For all I know when he read that note he could have thought I had the hots for him, which I definitely did not, but I know for sure he felt better about himself than before I walked in.
Thought you’d enjoy my little story – I haven’t shared that with anyone else, but it’s true; being kind to other people can change the world!
:) Em
Well, that's my story... go out their and start your own chain reaction! You never know the impact you might have in someones life.
Tell those you love how much you care about them today!
Happy Wednesday,
Emily
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