I’ve been thinking a lot lately about kindness.

  I regularly enjoy watching a television show called “What Would You Do?” hosted on ABC. With hidden cameras in place, actors play out everyday scenarios in a public space, that often involve conflict, with unsuspecting, ordinary people close by and in earshot. The people either have the choice to intervene into the situation or ignore it and continue on with their day.

  In this show, I am constantly surprised (but also not surprised at the same time) about how many people intervene, in whichever scenario is played out, to support one of the actors in the scenario. That support comes in the form of encouraging words, standing up to another person with an erroneous or misguided point of view, or even offering money to attempt to resolve the situation.

  Tears are brought to my eyes (although I blame allergies) often throughout the show and I am encouraged by those that are willing to take a stand for a stranger they have never met before in their lives. The kindness shown by the people in the show is so heartwarming.

  I’ve grown up hearing the saying, “It don’t pay to be ugly,” and I truly believe that to be the case.

  This year, with so much going on in the world, we have had to deal with a lot of emotional strain. I feel the constant need to take a break from it all for my own well-being.

  But, like in the show “What Would You Do?” I realized that we have the power to choose to ignore it all or take a stand and be the kindness that so many people desperately need right now.

  I have seen so much kindness in Henry County this year, from parades thanking first responders to parades hosted by community members for beloved friends or family members celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, or graduations. First responders have been gifted food from area businesses, communities and neighborhoods. This community has truly come together in support of each other and it is so heartwarming.

  This has not been an ideal year for anyone, but the kindness shown in Henry County during this time has been a light in all the darkness and a breath of fresh air.

  It can be so easy to get absorbed in our personal lives with the many stressors by which we are all influenced. So that random act of kindness that we experience from a stranger or a family member can be the thing that turns our day around. But, we can also be the source of the kindness to turn someone else’s day around.

  I say all of this to simply encourage you to be someone else’s kindness. You never know who may need that word of encouragement, uplifting text message or email, small gift, or smile.