Moments to remember

Kathleen Anderson writes The Sage Connection in The JOLT.

Well, the world has run amuck again. A new war raging overseas will ultimately impact everyone in some form. Gas prices, food shortages, homes and lives lost – the list goes on and on.

We just put our masks away, and now a new form of COVID has arrived in our state. 

Crime seems to be on the rise in neighboring cities, and one has to wonder how long it will take to arrive on our doorstep.

I have no answers.

I do, however, have a secret weapon that works for me. I have a ‘thing’ I have always thought of as my ‘deep pockets’. When something joyful, exciting or touching happens to me or someone I care about, I put it away in my deep pockets.

When sad or hurtful things come my way, I visit my deep pockets to remind myself that it wasn’t always like this and better days are ahead.

Deep pockets

Many of the items in my deep pockets have come when I least expected them and from sources that surprised and delighted me.

Deep pockets aren’t about me – they are about the gifts that come from others, often strangers, that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

For example, one day I was at a stoplight in California when I noticed an elderly man with a cane was trying to get across the street. I say trying, because an Olympic runner cannot make it all the way across a street with one stoplight in California without the crossing meter hand coming up when you are halfway there.

As it happened, there were two islands on this street, so he made it safely to the first one. I was behind other cars at this point. When I reached the right turn where the other island was located, the light was green and I could see the elderly gentleman had made it to the second island. I motioned for him to finish crossing the street, and he hurriedly stepped off the curb and started across.

Then he did something that made my heart sing. He stopped for just a second when he was in front of my car, turned and blew me a kiss, before hurrying on to the other side.

That old gentleman probably never gave me another thought but it was a gesture I will never forget – and into my deep pockets it went.

Often, we may not realize when we touch others. It can be a smile, a hug or a kind gesture or word when they need it the most.

It does not take a giant gesture or act to impact others. For me it is often just the opposite – a small act of kindness goes a long way.

And if I am really shooting the blues I go outside and work in the yard. I know next to nothing about gardening but somehow getting my hands in the dirt has always been healing for me.

Spending time with my great-grandchildren always awakens forgotten joys in everyday discoveries… an unusual looking rock, pretty caterpillar or flying insect.

Everyone deals with stress, grief and loss in their own way. In times like these we all need to find what works for us. There is no right or wrong way…just what works for each individual… and random acts of kindness.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at   kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.