Page 2 - MidWeek - Nov 24, 2021

2 MIDWEEK NOVEMBER 24, 2021
If Kindness Could Be An Epidemic
T‘Tis The Season
wo weeks ago, I traveled out of state. Yes, it’s certainly a hassle, but I did see some things while coming out of hibernation that gave me
bags down the walk to the door. Then, without identifying himself, he got back into his
M“Be kind whenever possible, it is always possible.” — the Dalai Lama
disheveled, for an internation- al conference. We gathered our luggage and headed for the taxicab stand outside the teeming airport. A cab swished up to the curb and although my Italian was limited, it was clear enough for the occasion. I showed the driver the address.
y friend and I had just landed in Rome, tired and
cause for joy and hope.
People allowing others to go in front of them in line.
car and drove away.
Note to Confucius: I haven’t
People helping to remove their seat neighbor’s bag from the overhead bin with a “thank you” in response. People waiting patiently while the never-ending de- planing process proceeded slowly after a tiresome, delayed flight.
“No problem, no problem,” he said and brushed me off with a wave of his hand.
An elderly man in Rome taught the author a lot about the gift of kindness.
thought of the cab driver for years. That old man, however, challenges me every time I find kindness an inconvenience.
My empathetic wife always brings a small gift for flight attendants to thank them for their efforts, pa- tience and service. Nowadays, I’m sure that’s more than just nice in the eyes of the recipients. I’m sure it’s also reaffirmation that humans still do care about the tedious work they do on the ground and at 30,000 feet. While we apparently have to hear about the los- ers from Darwin’s waiting room (a tiny minority, of course) who get headlines for their misguided, macho, misdirectional displays of frustration in retail stores and while up in the air, it’s really OK to share kind words or small gifts as little tokens of acknowledg- ment to people who serve us.
We careened out of the air- port toward “Roma: Il Centro.” And he drove and he drove. Something has to be wrong, I thought. The airport can’t be this far away. After winding through crowded streets for well over an hour, he sudden- ly stopped in the middle of a piazza, flung open the door of the cab, pointed vaguely in the opposite direction, charged us well over 1,000 liras — at that
after him. “Where is it?” With Italian money and only traveler’s checks left to hire another cab, and dragging suitcases packed for a month’s stay, we stopped people to show them the address of our destination as we went. But no
there. The child had brought us to his grandmother for help. Clearly Grandma didn’t know the place either, but instead of turning her back on us, she made a phone call. Finally, an elderly man in a white business suit arrived, looked at the ad- dress, frowned a bit, shook his head and looked at his watch and said, “I’ll get my car.”
Sister Joan Chittister, OBE, is a bestselling author and ad- vocate for justice and equality, and has been called one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. Chittister is a Benedictine nun of a sister monastery in Waia- lua and has lectured at Cham- inade University of Honolulu. Visit joanchittister.org.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
While Thanksgiving and the holiday season is ob- viously a renowned time for people to share niceties, tributes and to generally act kinder, as I’ve stated many times in the past, it shouldn’t be that tough to ooze that sentiment, that consideration, for 12 months a year. It shouldn’t have to take morons misbehaving to admin- istrative types, medical professionals, service industry stalwarts and others to make sure that the rest of us retain our civility toward one another, no matter how bad the last 21 months might have been for you.
“But where is it?” I shouted
“No, no, no! ” he said, with a gracious smile as he carried our
time about $100 — jumped into the cab again and took off, tires screeching
who had been watching the whole scene, listening to the conversations, began to wave usuptoawalk-upflatona narrow, winding back street. I despaired. An ample old lady sat on a small square stool
We drove for another half- hour before he pulled into the gates of our destination. I tried to give him a traveler’s check.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
one knew anything.
Then, suddenly, a small boy
KELLEY
with Sister Joan Chittister, OBE
And what better place would there be to calm the heck down and do what’s pono on a day-to-day basis than right here in the Aloha State? Thankfully, we don’t even honk here (usually). We use kind hand gestures to say “go ahead,” or simply wait a little longer at green lights, turns or in lines. While that may sound trivial, take a trip to one of “those” cities, where the eighth guy in a car line starts honking when the light turns green.
Yes, I traveled recently, and airport personnel, flight crews, check-in executors, baggage personnel and Safe Travels officials were as helpful and pleasant as could be. I might just travel again someday!
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com