Planting A Seed
Edited on March 30th, 2025:
Greetings, inspiring minds! The title of my website, Inspire Those Who Inspire You, is more than just a phrase—it’s a personal philosophy. It's a reminder that inspiration is not a one-way street. Often, the people who uplift us are the very ones who deserve to be uplifted in return. My goal is simple: to spread light where it’s needed most, to find meaning in moments of challenge, and to celebrate the ripple effect of small acts of kindness.
There’s one particular experience that has stayed with me—a vivid example of the unexpected beauty of “paying it forward.”
A few years ago, I was working at a front desk, welcoming guests and checking them in. Among our regulars was a kind couple who always made time to chat. We had a friendly rapport, sharing brief updates and discussing whatever was happening that week. On one particular day, our conversation turned to an upcoming football game. Somewhere in that exchange, I casually mentioned that I didn’t own a television, and therefore didn’t watch much TV. It wasn’t said in complaint—just a simple fact. We continued chatting, laughed a bit, and they went on with their day.
I didn’t think much of it—until a few days before Christmas.
The couple returned, as they always did, but this time they handed me a card. I thanked them, genuinely touched by the gesture, but waited until I got home to open it. When I finally did, I was overwhelmed. Inside was a thoughtful handwritten note—and a generous monetary gift. I sat in disbelief, holding their kindness in my hands, stunned that something so simple I had said had stayed with them.
That moment changed me.
It wasn’t about the money. It was about being seen. It was the feeling of being remembered, acknowledged, and cared for. It was proof that even fleeting conversations can linger in someone else’s heart—and inspire action.
This is the essence of kindness: it's often quiet, often unnoticed by the world, but deeply powerful to the person who receives it. That couple had no idea the impact they’d have on me. But because of them, I carry their gesture forward. Every time I’m in a position to help someone else—whether with a kind word, a listening ear, or something more tangible—I think of them.
This is what Inspire Those Who Inspire You means. It means we are all both teachers and students in the art of compassion. It means choosing to believe that generosity, even in its smallest forms, matters. And above all, it means remembering that the kindness we extend has the power to echo far beyond our own view.
Days later when I saw them come in again, I told them how grateful I was and how impactful their card was to me. They told me that they had a tradition where each year they would pick someone and surprise them with a card just as they had for me. And it was truly eye-opening. There have been several instances on the news or social media where I have heard of how a stranger will go out of their way to assist someone, donate a big tip in the drive through line at Starbucks, etc. But never in a million years did I think that would be me.
Ever since then, I have started a tradition of my own. All because of them. So, if you have ever thought about paying it forward in a drive through line, through a gift card/gift, bringing food/clothes to those in need, this is your sign to do it. As long as you are in a place that you feel that you are able to, know that you will change someone’s life for the better and make a positive impact. All in all, a little kindness goes a long way.
As a signature of my blog, I like to end each post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness”. There is no such time as the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
