RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
During a long day working to get the final touches on an exhibition just right, I knew I needed a few minutes break. I turned to one of the venue assistants to ask where I could get a coffee, or even just some water. Without missing a beat, they snapped at me, saying something along the lines of, “Can’t you see I’m busy?” I was quite surprised. I didn’t even really want the drink, I was just looking for a few minutes away from stressing out about if a picture was hung correctly or if the paint would dry in time. But here we are.
I tried not to take it personally, and held back the sarcastic remark that popped in my head – none of us needed that. Over the past few years, I’ve been practicing letting things go, seeing past moments of conflict to try and be a bit more empathetic. Later, when things had calmed down, I went over and simply asked if they were okay. That’s when they opened up—about how their mum was in the hospital, how they felt guilty for being at work instead of with her, how the weight of it all had been building up inside them. Suddenly, their reaction earlier made sense. It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with what they were carrying.
That moment reminded me that kindness isn’t just about the obvious gestures. Sometimes, it’s about seeing the person behind their frustration, their anger, their sharp words, and recognising that they, too, might be going through something. The phrase ‘random acts of kindness’ places a lot of emphasis on what we do. Like paying for a stranger’s coffee, giving up a seat on the train, or helping someone carry their shopping bags. But it’s also about how I choose to act towards other people. I’ve always loved the Sikh teaching that everyone is connected, that the same light exists in us all, for these exact kinds of moments. Life happens. I'm certainly not always the perfect version of myself.
Kindness can simply be seeing the best in people, even when they’re struggling to show it themselves.
Other Moments of Pause