• Home
• /
• Opinion

Random acts of kindness go a long way

It's not a question of condescension or pity, because they, like many of us, are making an honest living far from home.

I live in a gated community. As summer assaults us in Dubai, we drive past all the gardeners and maintenance staff labouring under the harsh sun, tending to the gardens and keeping them looking green and beautiful.
It's not a question of condescension or pity, because they, like many of us, are making an honest living far from home. It's more about identifying with them as kindred spirits. They've come to their office, which could be my garden, or yours.
Through my life I've found that paying it forward has always been valuable for me. We live in a connected world and the process of dissociating from our environs and choosing some ivory tower to live in can only have negative consequences, especially as the next generations model their behaviours on ours. We treat our security and other staff with respect and dignity, asking after them, and find in return that they are more than willing to step up if any problem arises in the community.
A few taxi rides on Careem have revealed something that more than one driver shared. It's about Magnus Olsson, the co-founder and Chief Navigator of the Middle East's chauffeur-driven car service. Apparently, Magnus always calls for a Careem car when he has to travel anywhere. When he sends a message out, the drivers scramble to book that request from his residence on Saadiyat Island. He treats the drivers as colleagues and equals and they find that so remarkable that they are willing to go the extra mile for him.
Urban legends abound, about our own Sheikh Mo stopping to help a stranded traveller change tyres on the roadside or deciding to have a coffee with simple folk in a restaurant ensures that his influence and power go much beyond his authority.
But it isn't only the rich and powerful. I remember a very bright girl called Sangay Lhaden in college who went on to join the civil service in India. While her smarts were apparent to everyone, it was the sunshine demeanour that won everybody over. When she passed away in a tragic helicopter crash while on duty in the northeastern India, the hills around her home were covered with people who travelled far to pay their respects. She had touched so many lives. Sangay's parents were stunned and very humbly said that they didn't know that so many people knew her, much less loved her.
It isn't random acts of kindness - it's deliberate actions that will have the ripple effect in a fractured world. Humanity Healing International says, "The choices you make have far-reaching consequences. Each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. We can use the Principles of the Ripple Effect to magnify our actions and their effects."
In most traditional societies, the concept of 'doing good' exists and is frequently built around festivals and important anniversaries. Why not challenge ourselves to do something good everyday - even if it is a kind word to a stranger.
Start with putting some water out for the birds today. Many of them are not native to this region. It's a responsibility. You have to remember to refill the cups of kindness.
harveena@khaleejtimes.com