The Power of Kindness When It Is Inconvenient
Kindness rarely shows up when it suits us. It shows up when we least expect it, and that is exactly when it matters most.
Have you ever thought about how inconvenient it can be to be kind? Not the kindness we plan in advance, when we have time and energy to spare, but the kind that arrives unexpectedly, right in the middle of a day we thought we had already organised.
A few days ago, I arrived at work with my day planned and my mind set on what I needed to get done. Just as I walked into the office, a colleague told me I had been selected to give a teaching session that morning. People were already waiting. My first response was, “Really? Why me?”
I was not prepared for it, and if I am honest, I did not particularly want to do it. But I got myself ready, introduced myself to the people I would be working with, and began.
I had no idea that something I had not wanted to do would become one of the most meaningful parts of my day.
The Moment Everything Changed
As the session went on, I was asked to work one to one with a lady and guide her through some practical skills. As we spoke and I got to know her, I began to see a younger version of myself in her.
I remembered what it felt like to be in training, learning something new, wanting to get it right, and needing someone to show me how. Suddenly, I was not simply teaching a skill. I was remembering what it felt like to be the person who needed guidance.
Something clicked inside me. Call it compassion, call it empathy. I found myself thinking, “Oh my gosh, you poor thing. Let me show you how to do this. It is straightforward, and by the end of today, you will be able to do it.”
My whole attitude changed. I became fully involved in helping her learn, and I could see her confidence growing too.
Later, when we came back together to discuss what we had done, she was amazed by how much she had learned. She told me she wanted to come back and spend more time with me. Of course, I said yes. We exchanged contact details, talked through what she had learned, and I left feeling grateful that I had been there for her.
What began as an unexpected responsibility became a moment that mattered to both of us. Teaching and mentoring are not only about passing on information. They are also about seeing a person, understanding how they learn, and supporting them as they grow.
You Never Know What Someone Is Carrying
During Mental Health Awareness Week, I keep thinking about the people around us. The person sitting beside us at work. The colleague we have lunch with. The neighbour we greet in passing. Any one of them could be facing a silent battle.
It might be pain, loneliness, fear, anxiety, or depression. We do not always see it written on someone’s face, and people do not always have the words or energy to explain what they are going through.
This is why kindness matters, especially when it is inconvenient. We may not know what someone needs, but we can pause long enough to notice them. A gentle word, a thoughtful question, a reassuring look, a little encouragement, or simply being present can help someone feel less alone.
You do not have to solve another person’s problems to show kindness. Sometimes, you only need to make it a little easier for them to take the next step.
Kindness Has a Way of Spreading
Have you ever received a kind look or a word of encouragement that stayed with you long after the moment had passed? You know that look someone gives you when they cannot quite put their gratitude into words. You walk away smiling, with a little more lightness in your heart and a spring in your step.
That is the beautiful thing about kindness. It does not always end with the person who receives it. They may carry that feeling into their next conversation, their next decision, or their next encounter with another person. They may offer the patience they were shown to someone else.
One kind moment can lead to another, and then another. The effect may be small at first, but it can ripple through a workplace, a family, a friendship, or a community.
The more we practise kindness, the more natural it can become. Imagine the difference we could make if we chose compassion in our everyday encounters, not only when it is easy, but also when we are busy, tired, or caught by surprise.
Let Your Kindness Leave a Fragrance
As you go through the rest of this week, remember that someone may need a gentle nudge, a soft word, or a little kindness from you. You may never know the full difference it makes, and that is all right. You do not have to witness the whole ripple for your kindness to matter.
Kindness is like a sweet-smelling fragrance. It travels with us, touches the people we meet, and can make the spaces we share feel a little more human.
Look after yourself, too. Your own wellbeing matters. You can offer kindness without having to carry everyone’s burdens alone. And if you are the one having a difficult time, you deserve kindness and support as well.
A Small Act of Kindness Starts With You
Here is my invitation to you: choose one small act of kindness today. Check in on someone. Offer a word of encouragement. Give someone your attention without rushing them. Be patient with a person who is still learning. Or simply let someone know that you are glad they are here.
If you would like to keep sharing and receiving everyday acts of kindness, join us in the Memriz Community of Kindness.
Let us keep spreading that sweet smelling fragrance, one encounter at a time.
A Few Questions for You
What is one small act of kindness someone has shown you that you still remember?
Have you ever experienced a moment when helping someone changed your own attitude or perspective?
Who around you might need a little patience, encouragement, or compassion today?
What is one simple act of kindness you can offer before the day ends?
Keep the Kindness Going
Join our Community of Kindness
Share your own kindness experiences with us at www.memriz.online
Look out for the full story on my podcast on YouTube
Have a lovely week.
Lola 🪻
About Lola Adeosun
Lola Adeosun is the founder of Memriz, a purpose led brand built around intentional kindness, meaningful connection and transformational learning, and the author of Memriz: Unveil Your Inner Flower. What began as hand drawn poems for friends has grown into a movement helping people live more intentionally and create a ripple effect of kindness in their homes, workplaces and communities.
Through the Community of Kindness, coaching and the Master Your Inner Kindness experience, Lola hosts regular masterclasses and conversations, and she writes from real moments in her own life, like the one you have just read. She believes that kindness, once given, is a fragrance that lingers long after we are gone.
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