I do not know if this is widely known or if it is some kind of Jeep owner secret society, but there is this really fun thing that happens when you own a Jeep.
My husband has a Jeep Rubicon, and every once in a while he will come back to his vehicle to find a little rubber duck sitting on it. Sometimes the duck has a note attached and sometimes it does not. At first I had no idea what this was about. But it turns out it is simply something Jeep owners do for one another.
They even have their own wave. Jeep drivers acknowledge each other with a friendly lift of the hand when passing on the road. Before we bought our Jeep I had no idea this culture of connection even existed. But it has been fun and honestly a little heartwarming to be a part of it.
As silly as it sounds it always makes me smile when my husband tells me someone left him another rubber duck. He enjoys it too. And while it might just be a playful little gesture it is also a great reminder of the power of kindness of being noticed and how something so small can brighten someone’s entire day.
What Does Kindness Look Like
Today I asked my daughter Malorie what kindness means to her. She thought about it for a while and then simply said
“When someone smiles at me.”
So simple so easy and yet so impactful. I could not agree more. A smile is one of the smallest yet most powerful ways to show kindness.
The Lasting Impact of Kindness
When I think back on times when kindness has touched my own life one memory stands out. There have been several occasions when a stranger has unexpectedly paid for our meal.
The very first time it happened was during a particularly difficult season for our family. Money was tight stress was high and hope felt a little far away. But then out of nowhere someone picked up our tab. They did not know us. They did not know our struggles. But their kindness told me something I desperately needed to hear at that moment. Yes things were hard but there was still good in the world.
Small Gestures Big Impact
Whether it is a rubber duck on a Jeep a smile from a stranger or a meal paid for when you least expect it these small acts of kindness carry incredible weight. They remind us that we are seen that we matter and that kindness is alive and well in the world.
And the best part is that it does not take much to pass it on.
So today maybe you will wave smile leave a note buy a coffee or simply say a kind word. You never know how much it might mean to someone else.