-PusangKalye-

I recently got an email from BlogCatalog about the Acts of Kindness which challenges members and bloggers everywhere to do something good offline — an act of kindness — and then post about it, using words, pictures, and/or videos to tell the story on Dec. 17. I visited the site to check it out and see how others have participated. Well, a lot did and maybe its not just because of the prize, but maybe its because they really wanna share something kind they did and somehow inspire others to do the same thing.

I have done a lot of “acts of kindness” in my life, i’m sure of that. I have done some in a special way at times and i have done some on a daily basis. I’m even pretty sure i have done some without me even knowing its already an act of kindness. Everyone does, right? So this got me thinking…. reading other’s posts about helping, sharing, giving, inspiring, etc…. what have i done that i could share to everyone and be able to make it as a source of inspiration for others…

Here’s what i thought of, an experience i would never ever forget, maybe because in a way i felt i wasn’t able to do what i really wanted but then again im glad that somehow i was able to share an act of kindness even for a while…

My story began when i started to notice this old man who sells cigarettes, candies, and newspapers on the sidewalk of Ayala Avenue in Makati City. His location was just a few steps away from the bus stop where i pass by every morning. There are many young and old vendors there but there was something different from this old man that made me notice him. I couldn’t say nor explain what it is but when i look at him i felt this unexplainable feeling inside and that made me really wonder about him. For a few weeks i observed him everyone morning on my way to my office. I tried buying some candies from him daily (even if i have my own candies) and would give him a quick but warm smile and even if he doesn’t smile back, i could see in his eyes that he is smiling back at me and it felt good. As early as 7am i could already see him there - rain or shine. And even one night when i went home late i was surprised to see him still there on the sidewalk, feeling cold but still selling his stuff. I really feel sad about him, thinking of my own grandparents who were really nice to me and with whom i live with up to now. I grew up with my grandparents that why i thought that’s the reason i felt good about the old man. But then, i realize i’m not feeling the same thing towards other old people - it’s just him. And that made me wanna talk to him, know who he is, what his life is all about and why at his old age he is still working when old people should already be staying at home to be taken care of by their families. So i planned a day where i would invite him for breakfast and have a nice chat with him. I even planned to buy all his stuffs so he wouldn’t worry about the day’s work and would just return home and rest after we meet. Everything was set on my mind and i planned to have it on a Monday morning. But unfortunately that weekend i had a flu and i was so sick i couldn’t even get up from bed and so i was absent for like 3 days from work. So i decided to push my plan on Thursday. I was really excited that morning and i even bought a camera to take our pictures and record some video. I was looking for him on his usual spot but then he’s not there. I tried looking around thinking maybe he transferred but i failed to see him. Friday came and he still was nowhere to be found. That got me thinking what could have happened to him. Where is he? Why are all his co-vendors there while he is not? Then Monday came and fortunately i saw his stuffs on his usual spot on the sidewalk. But as i came near, i saw a different guy. Wondering where the old man is, i asked him “Where is Lolo? the old man who usually stays on this spot?” Then he gave me a questionable look then suddenly said “He’s gone”. He’s gone? i asked myself, does that mean I won’t see him here anymore? Did he transfer to some other place? or did he stop working and just stayed at home? And then suddenly my gaze fell on the small rectangular black pin on his left chest and that’s when i realize he meant that the old man passed away already. I felt bad - really. Tears suddenly rolled down my cheeks while i was standing there. I couldn’t believe he’s gone. What about my plan? I’m supposed to treat him for breakfast and spend time with him. I’m supposed to get to know him and be his friend. I don’t know if its my fault. I blamed myself for ever catching that flu. If only i didn’t get sick, perhaps my plan could have pushed through. I didn’t even get his name and he didn’t even had the chance to know that someone cared for him, that i care for him and i want to help him even in my own simple ways. I really felt sad and full of regrets. Then the guy who was surprised to see me crying suddenly asked me why i cried. I just looked at him and gave a quick sad smile and while i was about to turn around and walk towards my building, he said “Are you the girl with sweet smile?” I turned back to him and he said “Lolo said there was this girl who buys candy from him every morning and smiles at him. He said it was really sweet and it reminded him of his lost daughter”. Surprised and touched by what he said, i cried again and gave him another smile and walked away.

My story maybe simple or it may be even nothing compared to what others were able to do in terms of acts of kindness. I never told anyone about this story coz its something i have inside me up to now. Everytime i pass by his old spot, i remember him and i always feel sad and regretful. But in a way, i also feel happy. Maybe because i knew that he noticed me and that the smiles i gave him meant something to him. So perhaps that’s the act of kindness i was able to make without knowing it at first. Though i wanted to do something different, it was my smiles that made the difference. I remember a quote that says that we should smile nicely at people even strangers coz we never know when that one simple smile could brighten someone’s day. And i know i did. I do tend to smile at other people most of the time and i know that in a way i am able to make someone smile back. Smiles are powerful. So i guess, its nice to let everyone know that smiling helps and its an act of kindness, or maybe even something better…