Some years ago, I ran into the mother of my college boyfriend, and she told me that she still had a coffee mug I’d given her 25 years earlier. The cup bore the slogan “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.” I’d given it to her when she was struggling at a workplace rife with politics and gossip, and she was maligned for not going along. 

I’d completely forgotten about giving it to her and smiled with surprise that she still had it decades later, long after she left that job, went to college as a grandmother, and became a writer. The cup was a talisman for her. When her sister died, she shared it with her brother-in-law, asking him to return it when he felt strong enough to do so. Six months later, he did.

Small acts can make such a difference. I remember when my father was terminally ill, the mother of my son’s classmate stepped in and offered to have him spend the night. It was a godsend to have him taken care of while I spent time with my dad. Later, when another classmate’s family was in a similar situation, I stepped in to do the same, and the mother’s relief was palpable.

My own mother was the queen of kindness via the mail, regularly sending cards to friends and relatives to recognize milestones, share words of encouragement, or “just because” —a light tap on the shoulder and a whisper in the ear that says “I’m here.”

Kindness multiplies, like an endless echo. 

Be kind. Send flowers. Order a pizza. Pick up the kids. Commiserate over coffee. Celebrate with a beer. Lend an ear. Share a laugh. Shoulder a cry. Write a letter. Send a card. Walk the dog. Give a humorous coffee mug. 

Make the world a better place. Give kindness. Accept kindness. Pass it on.