The Unexpected Power of Kindness

Lifting Each Other Up in Moments of Vulnerability

My dear friend,

I have been cataloging some of my experiences sharing my little tokens of love, appreciation and gratitude in a section called Token Tales. This story belongs there but I thought it’s powerful and important enough to be part of the email newsletter you receive.

This is not a long share but I do think it’s one you’ll want to read.

My 10-year-old daughter and I were on vacation, sitting by the poolside sipping on our lemon iced teas when a bespectacled, black haired, sweet-looking tween approached us.

With a directness that children seem to possess in abundance, he told my daughter she looked beautiful and asked if she wanted to swim with him.

Umm. Awkward much?

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Before either of us could respond, his mother rushed over. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice tinged with embarrassment and fatigue. “Please excuse him.”

As she gently led him away, he asked earnestly, “Why can’t I swim with her?” Her gentle but stern voice, carried by the breeze, let us know she was telling him he can’t just walk up to strangers like this.

While we lazily flipped through some books we had brought to the poolside, I noticed her apologizing to other vacationers, sometimes with tears in her eyes, clearly overwhelmed.

Throughout the next hour, I watched this scene repeat itself. The boy, full of innocent enthusiasm, approaching strangers. His mother, caught in a cycle of apology and explanation, looking more drained with each interaction.

“He seems sweet … but is his mom alright?” I suddenly heard my daughter comment. I hadn’t realized that she, too, had been affected enough by that brief interaction to interrupt her reading.

There was only one thing to do to overcome this feeling of helplessness that swept over me. I went up to her, realizing all too well, she had been telling her son it’s weird to just walk up to strangers and start talking to them.

Pushing my awkwardness and hesitation aside, I approached her with “Hi! I’m Mansi. I just wanted to say it’s ok if your son wants to hang out with my daughter and me … we’re going to play in the pool in a bit.”

She had tears in her eyes as she told me about his health challenges, their barn, his cat, that this was their first time in a resort…it was as normal a conversation between moms as could be. He was out by the beach at the time but she told me she’d let him know he was welcome to hang out with us later.

When I got back to my chair 20 minutes later, my daughter looked a bit concerned. I told her I needed to paint something for the mom and that, perhaps, she could keep an eye out for the boy, so we could invite him to a bean bag toss game. She offered to bring out her favorite card game “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza” as well “in case he doesn’t like tossing bean bags!”

Always so considerate, this child.

I reached for my ever-present watercolor kit and painted a small tree on a hill with the words “live, love, laugh.” On the back, I wrote: “Please know that your son has an amazing light within and you are an amazing mother to let it shine. May we all strive to be pure-hearted like him.”

As we were leaving, I quietly handed her this little token of love — just a tangible reminder for her to know how amazing I thought she was.

She just broke down sobbing and hugged me. I held her for a long time, and she kept thanking me over and over.

All I could do was whisper, “It’s okay.”

That moment... it was so raw and real. We exchanged emails. I looked in her eyes and saw the pain but also the pride. And I walked away from that interaction wondering how we, as a society, treat those that appear different — especially in those vulnerable moments.

How often do we judge when we could offer support?

How many times have we missed the chance to lift someone up when they really needed it?

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That night, as I reflected on the day’s events, I found myself jotting down some thoughts in my journal:

1. Behind every person is a story we don’t fully know. Approaching others with kindness and understanding can make a world of difference. I didn’t know her but I could see she was feeling challenged while trying her best to give her child a vacation experience others routinely took for granted.

2. Vulnerability is strength. Both the mother in her overwhelming day and I in reaching out showed raw, real humanity. By embracing our own vulnerabilities, we opened doors for genuine connections. Later that evening, I saw her after dinner. We chatted some more while my daughter and her son exchanged notes on cats. We knew the likelihood of us crossing paths again was very slim, yet both of us made time for a meaningful connection that mattered in that moment.

3. Small acts of compassion can have a profound impact. A simple painting and a few words of encouragement was all that was needed to give this mom a moment of relief and feel supported. My daughter and I could’ve carried on like a lot of the other vacationers but pausing for a bit, helping lift someone up who clearly seemed overwhelmed, felt like the right thing to do.

4. We all have the power to be the change we want to see. It’s easy to wish the world was kinder. It’s more challenging — and more rewarding — to be the one who takes the first step in creating that kindness. And as a mother, I feel a responsibility to lead by example.

   

This was not one of my typical gratitude tags handed to make someone who blends into the background feel appreciated. It was a gesture to let that mom know she was seen, she was valued and to recognize that she was doing her best…because, after all, isn’t that all we can do?

So, my dear friend, this week here is my ask of you:

• Look for opportunities to offer kindness, especially in unexpected places.

• When you see someone struggling, offer support without judgment.

• Celebrate the unique light in others, even (especially) when it shines differently.

• Share your own vulnerabilities—you never know who might need to hear your inspiring story.

I know it’s an experience I will hold in my heart for a long time.

It’s helped me come out of my own shell, overcome my own discomfort at approaching a stranger for fear of crossing a boundary, and reminded me that more than anything else, it’s important to be kind, to be supportive, to be the the person who sees the light in others, even when they’re struggling to see it themselves.

Because when we lift each other up, especially in moments of vulnerability, we all rise together.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have you ever been in a situation like this — on either side? How do you think we can be better at supporting each other, especially when it’s not easy or convenient?

With love, compassion, and a renewed commitment to being the change,

Mansi.