Kindness Goes a Long Way (Bipolar or Not)

I've started to do my Christmas shopping on ebay (early, aren't I?), and I have to tell you about something that happened to me.

I collect kneeling Santa's (have for many years), and am always looking out for new ones. Well, I found a decoupage kneeling Santa ornament on ebay, and bought it.

Today I got an email from the woman who was selling it, telling me that when she looked at it, she thought it was "sub-standard" by her standards.

So what she did was re-decoupage the ornament herself, and is sending it to me. But that's not all - she also refunded all my money! Now, that's not something she had to do. It had to come from her character. Amazing to find an honest person these days!

Oops - better watch that - my own cynicism is peeking through, when I was just about to urge you to stop being cynical about people and how they treat each other. :)

It's the small kindnesses that count. After all, kindness is free. And during these poor economic times, when everyone is struggling, other people might really appreciate a simple kindness from you - like that harried woman in the department store whose child won't stop screaming. I'm sure she could use some encouragement, or at least a tiny bit of kindness.

I truly believe in "random acts of kindness." I think it's the way people should always treat each other, whether it's Christmastime or not.

We people with bipolar disorder sometimes complain about the stigma we feel because of the disorder. But maybe the kindness has to come from us first - to show other people the good side of someone with a mental disorder.

Anyway, I really appreciated what this woman did for me with the ornament on ebay. But more than that, I appreciated the lesson that came with it. There are still good people in the world.

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele