by Jennifer Dickinson

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: June 17, 2011

A random act of kindness is contagious.

Envision what seems to be an endless line of traffic waiting at a stop light. You need to make a left turn across the traffic. One person is angry and whizzes into the intersection to prevent you from entry. They're afraid of losing their "spot" in traffic and not getting ahead. Little do they realize in the long run they're really not getting much further ahead to begin with. And even worse, their attitude is poisonously infectious as well. It gives birth to others doing the same thing. Growing angry and not reaching out to be helpful.

Rewind the scene - it's stressful to even think about.

Take two.

Envision yourself again needing to make the left turn across the same lane of traffic. This time the person smiles at you. They may flash their lights as a a way to signal to you the turn is OK. They may wave at you, directing you it's OK. You wave in return and go on your merry way.

You reach a four way stop and reach it at the same time as the person across the intersection from you. Only moments ago, you were reminded of the person who showed you the tiny act of kindness by letting you through the traffic.

You and the person across the intersection from you look at each for just a moment. And then you give them "the signal."

They act surprised for a moment (especially if this is happening in New Jersey), and then they smile and pull forward, giving you a friendly wave and a sincere smile.

What you have all done is an act referred to as paying it forward. You carry the positive or the negative with you onto the next person. If you receive negative, it may make you feel you need to pass it on to the next person. And in turn your recipient passes it onto their next person. And soon there's an area of town full of disgruntled people!

The bigger person is the one who takes a negative "gift" and turns it around into a positive one. When you're a recipient of a person's negative attitude, why not write it off and be a donor of good karma instead? Instead of passing on the negative mindset, still be positive. Realize that person may just be having a bad day. Or maybe they've run into some hard luck and difficult times. Your reaction in the positive may stop them in their tracks and make them realize it doesn't pay to be so angry and it saps more energy to be miserable than it does to be happy. In the long run, that misery taxes on a person's health and breaks down the body physically.

Just think, your reaction may make a difference in that person's way of life!

Of course, not everyone will react positively and may grow more angry because they didn't get a negative rise out of you. Some people crave negative attention simply because it brings them attention. If this is the case, simply write it off, move on and pass on the kindness to someone who appreciates it. In the long run, even a small act is making a big difference, whether you realize it or not.

Learn more about how to spread kindness in your community and even the days of the year earmarked for acts of kindness by clicking on this website. Although shouldn't the goal be to make each day a day filled with kindness?

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