Today at Safeway, something simple and beautiful happened. As I moved my groceries forward on the checkout line to make space for the woman behind me and her two teenage daughters, she thanked me and remarked how kind that was—something she wasn’t used to seeing in stores. I smiled and said it was nothing. Just a small gesture.

As she continued unloading her cart, I noticed she had some Mochi—something my wife loves. I asked where she found it, and she kindly offered me hers. I declined, touched by her generosity. But as I was finishing my checkout, she surprised me. Her daughter had run off and returned with another pack of Mochi. She picked up both and told the cashier, “This is for him.” Despite my protests, she insisted and paid for it. “Kindness is catching, I guess,” she said with a smile.

What moved me most was yes the gift itself, but also the look on the young cashier’s face—and on her daughters’ faces. A small, shared act of kindness had created a ripple, a moment none of us will forget.

Kindness Is Contagious

This experience reminded me: kindness doesn’t end with the person who receives it—it often multiplies. One small gesture, even something as simple as making space in line, can inspire another, and another. It becomes a chain reaction, expanding outward in ways we may never see.

Kindness teaches. It models for children. It softens hearts. It changes moods. And it reminds us that, in a world filled with noise and distraction, connection still matters.

We may never know the impact of a small act. But that’s the beauty of it—every act of kindness has exponential potential. A door held open. A compliment offered. A listening ear. A surprise gift of Mochi. Each one has the power to lift someone’s spirit and inspire them to do the same for someone else.

So today, or tomorrow, do something kind—especially when it seems insignificant. Because kindness isn’t just something we do. It’s something we pass on.

And when we do, it expands.