Too Good to Keep to Yourself: The Quiet Power of Choosing Kindness

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“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”– Maya Angelou

Sometimes, the most powerful stories come from the moments we almost reacted, but didn’t. Moments when our instincts told us to speak sharply or defend our place, but something deeper asked us to pause, breathe, and choose empathy instead. This is one of those moments.

An Unexpected Encounter at the Shop (Kindness in the Queue)

It was just an ordinary trip to the local shop. I was in line, quietly waiting my turn, watching for the next available cashier. Then, out of nowhere, a woman and her little girl stepped right in front of me in the queue. No explanation. No eye contact. Just… skipped ahead.

I froze. For a second, I wasn’t sure what to feel or do. Frustration flared. My mind went from confusion to irritation, and I could feel the words forming on my lips, ready to correct what seemed like a clear breach of everyday decency. Then something shifted.

The woman turned around, met my eyes, and gently smiled. “I’m so sorry for jumping the queue,” she said. Her daughter, standing beside her, looked visibly upset, teary-eyed, unsettled, and clearly not having an easy day. In that split second, everything softened. I smiled back. “It’s okay,” I told her. And I meant it.

Too Good to Keep to Yourself: The Quiet Power of Choosing Kindness

As we moved toward the till, I noticed the woman was quietly coaxing her daughter, trying to calm her, trying to explain something about getting home, about time. I didn’t hear it all, but I didn’t need to. I recognised the energy. A mum doing her best. A parent in a moment of invisible stress. And suddenly, my frustration felt small.

I was reminded again of this truth: Being rude is easy. Kindness is a sign of strength.

I could have responded with sarcasm or passive aggression. I could’ve “stood up for myself” and made a point. But would that have helped anyone, especially a struggling mum and a distressed child?

No. And I’m glad I didn’t go down that path.

Why Kindness Matters. Even When It's Hard

This moment reminded me how often we carry unseen burdens. The people beside us in queues, on buses, in traffic, they’re navigating personal battles we may never witness. When we pause long enough to choose understanding over irritation, we open a window to kindness, both for them and for ourselves. Kindness in the Queue.

And that’s the beauty of these little moments: They don’t require grand gestures. Just small decisions made with compassion.

We don’t always get it right. But when we do, when we hold our tongue, soften our stance, or offer grace, it’s worth acknowledging. It’s worth sharing. Because those quiet victories are too good to keep to yourself.

Share Your Kindness Ripples on Memriz

Have you had a moment like this recently, where you caught yourself just in time? Where you turned away from criticism and leaned into empathy instead? We’d love to hear it.

Share your story on Memriz.online. Your experience might encourage someone who’s struggling with the same tension between reaction and reflection, frustration and grace.

Let’s build a community that celebrates the strength it takes to choose kindness when it would be easier not to.

Have a lovely day and may your small acts of grace inspire others to do the same.