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EDITOR’S NOTE

Ron & Mary James

To the Kindness of Strangers

ou may have noticed recently that the world seems Just a few days earlier, we were on a train in France standing
to be spinning out of control. Crudity, ignorance, at the door, ready to get off at the upcoming station with our
dishonesty and heartlessness cascade from the three heavy suitcases. A man dressed in a suit stood up and
Yhighest offices in the land, setting toxic examples came over to us to tell us this wasn’t the stop we wanted. We
for young and old everywhere. Hardly a day goes by when we looked at our tickets and realized he was right. The two sta-
don’t wince as we look at the latest examples of inhumanity tions shared similar names which is why we were confused.
across the planet. Our benefactor didn’t have to go out of his way to help stran-
gers who didn’t even ask for help. He did it out of kindness.
As an antidote to this turmoil, let’s take a moment to look at
the kinder, gentler side of life from a traveler’s perspective. We could recount many other examples of the kindness of
Reflecting on two experiences on our recent trip, the world strangers, of unselfish deeds large and small. If you travel, you
looks friendlier and more caring -- a place where universal understand because it likely has happened to you. Kindness
goodness is expressed uncountable number of times a day can come from anyone anywhere, gifting us with a much
in every city, town and village on Earth. We’ve seen it, experi- needed reminder that goodness is in our DNA.
enced it - and try to practice it wherever and anytime we have
the opportunity. So the next time you’re depressed by the politics of hate and
divisiveness, think about all of the kind deeds being commit-
In Venice, Italy, in late spring, Ron reached into his wallet, paid ted around the world every second of everyday. And be sure
for dinner and walked away from the cashier. He was going to practice a bit of kindness as often as you can. The world
out the door when a customer tapped him on the shoulder will be better place because of it – and you.
and handed him some Euros along with $60 American dol-
lars. “Excuse me sir,” the kind and honest fellow said, “you Happy Trails Friends,
Ron & Mary James
dropped this at the register.”

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