Trust, Caring and Kindness in a Small Florida Town

Trust and Honor in a Small Florida Town

After years in the business and corporate world it is easy to become hardened and distrustful; very cautious at a minimum. We wrap ourselves in layers of litigious toilet paper.
Its seems as though even the most minor decision we make must to go through a "what if" process. What if it offends, what if it leads to a law suit, what if, what if, what if ? We have been conditioned by our experiences to believe most people are out to get us.

Hmmm? Wait a minute !

On a recent consulting engagement I found a town with the most honest, genuine, caring and giving people I have seen since my childhood. Imagine a physician wanting to give (free) flu shots to the residents of a local assisted living community or a company only charging you half of the $5,000 bill because they understand how the economy has affected you. Imagine an artist who creates all day everyday, only to give her work away. While standing in line at the local grocery store I repeatedly witnessed good Samaritans pay the bill for those in front of them when they realized the person didn't have enough money to pay for everything in their cart. I asked one of the good Samaritans why they did such a wonderful thing. Their response "I made a committment to do something good for someone everyday". A random act of kindness is powerful.

When was the last time, a store clerk said "its OK, just pay the next time you come in" ? Or have a news paper reporter tell you about all the "good" stories they are working on. I can keep going but don't want to disclose the location for fear it might speed up what inevitably will happen.

I feel honored, lucky and in someways more at peace now. My time here has stirred my soul.
It has strengthened my belief that each of us wants to do good. Imagine the positive peer pressure on a child growing up in a town filled with good honorable people.

Please don't laugh, but imagine what our country would be like if this same culture existed in our nations capital.

I hope each of you can have such an experience on your journeys. Keep looking for that Beacon on a Hill.

Rick D Watkins

How are you treating life?

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