Today's Mostly True Story: No Kindness Too Small

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Cynthia and I were walking the dog, strolling casually down Broadway for a sojourn into town when we noticed her. She must have been in her mid-70’s. A mere waif of a women, I'm sure that the dog weighed more that she did. A bright red scarf was rapped around her head and pale face, protecting her from the winter’s chill. She seemed to be looking here and there, as if to get her bearings. We sensed that she was somehow confused. When we finally got close enough to greet her, we knew she was in distress. We could immediately read frustration in her steel blue eyes.

She approached us –

“Can you help me”?

“Of course, dear”, we replied almost simultaneously.

“I seem to have gotten lost. I’m looking for the Skate Park”, she replied.

Now, the response seemed strange to me. After all, why would a women in her 70’s be asking where the skate park was? (there actually IS one at Nyack's Memorial Park)

“Are you looking for the PARK or something near it”, I asked.

"I think that I live near it. But, I'm not sure. It’s on flat ground and then goes up the hill”.

Exasperated, she added, “I can’t believe I’ve gotten this old to have forgotten where I live”!

Cynthia and I both reassured her that it happens to all of us. But, yes, we could also relate to the fact that it does seem to increase with age! We did everything within our power to reassure her that it was not a big deal. We were walking ANYWAY, so, we would be glad to help her find her way home.

There was just one caveat - I certainly knew where the skate park was (we weren’t far away) but, we needed something a little more concrete.

Then Cynthia took over and did what she does best; exercise compassion -

“What’s your name dear”?

“Jay”, she replied with a fragile smile.

“Well, Jay, I’m Cynthia and this is Frank”, Cynthia beamed back.

Cynthia’s calm, gentle demeanor put Jay right at ease. She kept repeating how embarrassing it all was for her and Cynthia kept reassuring her that it was OK – all would be well. Eventually, Cynthia asked Jay if she had some form of identification that might contain her actual address. Together they went through Jay’s purse and eventually found a blank check with her address on it:

BINGO!

#3 Main St.

So, this strange little caravan comprised of me, Cynthia, Jay, and Rexie strolled leisurely up Broadway and towards Main St.

I walked in the lead with Rexie while Cynthia and Jay, now arm in arm, brought up the rear. I could hear Cynthia in conversation with Jay, asking questions about her life and how she how’d wound up where she was now – literally and figuratively. Cynthia’s care and concern eventually assuaged all of Jay’s insecurity. They spoke as if they were old friends. It seems that Jay and her husband had lived in Nyack since the 60’s but had moved to their new place about two years ago. She had walked to the library in the center of town and when she departed, she turned left when she should have turned right - a simple mistake we have all made in our lives.

After about 10 minutes we arrived at 3 Main St., which happen to be The Claremont Apartments. Jay mentioned that she had a key and remembered that she lived in apartment 6D. I decided to wait in the lobby with Rexie while Cynthia made sure that she got into her apartment OK.

Ironically, as the elevator opened, Jay’s husband was coming out! As Cynthia and Jay entered the elevator I could hear the conversation but could not see what was happening:

“Hi. Who are you”? I heard a man ask.

“Hi, I’m Cynthia. We found you wife and we are returning her to you”.

I heard a chuckle and then the elevator door closed, ending my eavesdropping.

Cynthia, Jay, and her husband road the elevator together to the 6^th floor where the couple thanked her profusely and gave her a tour of their apartment. Cynthia returned to Rex and I a few minutes later and we continued our sojourn. We both remarked how easy it was to do something so simple that made a big difference in another person’s life. We also thought about how vulnerable, at that moment, she was. If she had made a truly wrong turn, the outcome may have been quite different. She was fortunate to have found two people who really do care for their fellow human beings. Cynthia and I make a conscious effort to foster kindness in even the smallest ways. It's part of the practice of mindfullness. It's the "Big Brother", if you will, to exercising selfless acts of kindness.

As it is in the laws of physics, so it is in life. Sir Isaac Newton taught us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Life is no different. We must be mindful that for each action WE take in life, there is bound to be an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, if we wish to foster good in the world for ourselves and others than that is what we must contribute to it. If we give love, then we will surely get love in return. It may not always seem this way, but, in the end, it is always so.

At the end of the day, Cynthia and I were feeling pretty good at what we had done. The deed proved to be its own reward. It was a good day.