Last winter I decided to visit a small village where one of my old friends lived ... It had been many years since we last met so I was really excited about the trip ... After getting off the bus I realized his house was much farther than I expected ... My phone battery had already died and I did not remember the exact directions ...
I started walking along a narrow road hoping I would recognize something familiar ... After almost thirty minutes I was completely lost ... There were only a few houses around and the weather was getting colder ... I thought about asking someone for help but I did not see anyone nearby ...
After a while I noticed a little girl standing outside a small grocery shop with her grandmother ... I politely asked if they knew my friend's name ... The old lady smiled and said she knew exactly where his family lived because everyone in the village knew each other ... Instead of just giving me directions she asked her granddaughter to walk with me because the house was not easy to find ...
During the walk the little girl happily talked about her school her pets and how peaceful village life was ... It was amazing how a complete stranger could make me feel so comfortable in a place I had never visited before ... Within a few minutes we reached my friend's house and I was finally able to surprise him after so many years ...
Before leaving I thanked the grandmother and her granddaughter for their kindness ... The old lady smiled and said something I will never forget ... She told me that a traveler should never feel alone because every road becomes easier when someone is willing to guide you ...
Those simple words stayed with me long after I returned home ... A few weeks later I saw an elderly man at a local bus terminal looking confused while trying to find the correct platform ... Many people were walking past without paying attention ... I remembered my experience in that village and decided to help him find his bus ... It only took a few minutes but the smile on his face reminded me that even a small favor can make someone's day much better ...
Since then I have believed that kindness is not always about giving money or expensive gifts ... Sometimes it is simply about giving your time your attention and helping someone who needs a little direction in life ...
