Dec. 29 - Free Falafel

Day 363 of a year of kindness

For a change of pace, I worked out of the University of Rhode Island Library today. There was almost no one there because students are on break.Later, I stopped at the International Pocket Cafe to get a falafel and behind me in line was a student I saw at the library. He was getting the same thing. We chatted for a few minutes, and when I went to pay for mine, I told the cashier I would happily buy his as well. He was so surprised and appreciative.

After all this time, it never gets weird to offer a kindness. I told him he looked like my son (which he did) and he deserved a free falafel for being at the library all day. He agreed! If anyone deserves kindness, it’s a college student.

After he left, Nelson, who works there, offered me a falafel sample. What is better than that?

Science of Kindness - Research reveals that when someone receives an unexpected kindness, they are more likely to pass it on. A 2025 study found that altruism and indirect reciprocity are powerful motivators that cause people to “pay kind actions forward.” Offering to cover the cost for someone doesn’t just help them — it increases the total amount of kindness in the world. #BeKind #KindnessCounts #KindnessCounts2025 #kindness #kindnesseffect #kindnessmatters #internationalpocketcafe