Echoes of Kindness

A story about how one very small act reminded me that kindness always circles back. 

Several months ago, while checking out at the mall, I noticed an elderly woman approach a store employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods. She asked where the parking lot exit was and whether there was more than one exit. “There is,” he replied, pointing vaguely toward the far corner of the store. For anyone who has been inside a Dick’s, you know it’s huge – about 50,000 square feet, nearly the size of a football field. From where we stood, you couldn’t even see the door. The woman frowned, clearly uneasy. 

The employee returned to his work, and I stepped in. “This store can be confusing, especially with two exits leading to huge parking lots,” I told her. “I can walk with you.” We strolled together through mannequins and racks, chatting lightly about our purchases. When we finally stepped outside, she looked around and said, “I don’t see my car. I’m not sure if this is where I parked.” 

She described her vehicle, and we began searching. At one point, she spotted a blue car and exclaimed, “There it is!” - only to realize, as we got closer, that this was a sedan, and her car was a small SUV. As a psychologist, I was quietly running a mini mental status check in my head. She seemed alert, just understandably disoriented. Eventually, we found her SUV. She thanked me, we exchanged pleasantries and began to part ways – I toward the store, and she toward her car. 

Then, just as I was walking away, she called after me. She walked over, gave me a hug, and said, “You have given me hope that there is still good in this world.” 

To this day, I smile whenever I think about that moment. I had eased her anxiety, but in truth, she had lifted mine. As I walked back into Dick’s and later drove home, I felt a surprising lightness. It struck me that I may have gotten more from helping her than she did from me. We often think of kindness as something we give to others - but in truth, it nourishes the giver just as much, if not more. Does that make kindness selfish? Not at all. Feeling good from helping someone else isn’t selfish – it’s simply an added benefit! In fact, I wish I had thanked her – for the chance to help, and for reminding me how powerful these small human connections can be. 

I remember as a kid the thrill of yelling into a cave and hearing my voice bounce back a few seconds later. That’s what acts of kindness are like - they return to the giver. As a psychologist, I know there’s a wealth of research showing that acts of kindness improve mood, reduce stress, and even boost physical health. Psychologists sometimes call it the “helper’s high” - that rush of positive emotion we feel after doing something for someone else. What struck me that day was how real and immediate it felt – not a statistic, but an undeniable shift in my own mood and body. 

That moment reminded me that kindness doesn’t have to be grand or complicated. Sometimes it’s just walking alongside someone who feels lost – literally or figuratively. We tend to underestimate how much these small gestures matter, both to the recipient and to the giver. But the truth is, they ripple outward, restoring a bit of faith in humanity - one person at a time. 

That hug from a stranger stayed with me because it was such a simple reminder: kindness matters. It doesn’t take much – just a few extra steps, a few extra minutes - but it can shift the course of someone’s day, including your own. In a world where it’s easy to feel rushed, skeptical, or disconnected, these small moments of human connection remind us that goodness is very much alive. 

Here’s a simple practice to try this week: pick one intentional act of kindness each day. It doesn’t have to be big - hold the door, let someone go ahead, check in on a friend, or smile at a stranger. Then notice how you feel afterward. Do you feel lighter, calmer, or more connected? Write it down and see what patterns emerge. 

I’d love to hear about your experiences. What small act of kindness did you try, and how did it affect you? Share in the comments or pass this along to someone who could use a reminder of the good in the world. 

Join me in sending kindness out into the world - and experience your own echo.

 xx, kim