She nodded slowly, her eyes shining, and said she hoped I would do the same for someone else someday. Before parting ways, she placed her hand on my arm, steady and warm, as if to seal the lesson.

Driving home, I realized the plan hadn’t been cunning at all. It was simple, almost obvious, yet it changed the entire tone of my day. The soda was long forgotten, but the memory stayed vivid. Kindness, I learned, doesn’t need recognition or reward; it just needs a moment and a willing heart. That old lady probably never knew how much she gave me in that short line at the store. And ever since, I’ve tried to stay alert for those quiet chances to pass it on, one small act at a time.