Dec. 9 - Postal Love

Day 343 of a year of kindness

Kindness Ambassador #40, Arlene, found kindness in action at the post office today.

“I mail many packages a week, due to an intentional down-sizing exercise (aka: getting rid of junk over EBay). Business is good, and my trips to the post office involve 7-10 packages per trip. Today, it is one of the busiest weeks for mailing, due to the holiday rush.

The post office is a wonderful place to see kindness in action on a second-by-second basis. Don’t believe me? Sit and watch. And you will see dozens of people wobbling to the door, one after the other, arms ladened with boxes. And almost instantly, you’ll see another person rushing to open the door for them. Hundreds of times per day. And then hear the call and response of “thank you/thank you ma’am/that is so sweet/I appreciate it” and then “you’re welcome/no problem/happy to help/have a good day.”

That was my reality today at the Page Field post office in Fort Myers. I can’t carry 10 boxes through the door; I can only manage three at a time. So with nine boxes, I had to make three trips from the parking lot to the door, and then to the kiosk, and then to the drop off bin. And at each point, someone opened my door, and then I in turn (as I left to return to the parking lot) could open for the folks coming inside.

On my final run, the drop off bin was filled to the top, so I could not add another item and had to go into the lobby area with the long lines. With my three small boxes in hand, I was able to open the door for a gentleman with three huge mailing bins. We both stood in line to wait for a cashier. And as we were leaving, he rushed ahead to make sure to open the door for me!

The post office could very easily prop those doors. Or have a door stop. Or could add swinging doors. But I’m glad they don’t. This gentle but mighty gesture is pure power. It is an act of resistance. It is evidence of civility and kindness in action. And it’s free."Science of Kindness: Research reveals that everyday kindness: small, repeated gestures—like opening a door—are not trivial. They are powerful micro‑acts that shape health, happiness, and community life. #BeKind #KindnessCounts #KindnessCounts2025 #kindness #kindnesseffect #kindnessmatters