I love to get little glimpses of what humans really are like. These are the small nuances of interaction, the small acts of kindness or acknowledgement. They show the social tendernesses that are all part of being human. They seem to come naturally.
There are so many daily glimpses into the humanity of people I meet. The “thank you” someone says when you hold the door for them. The smile from a stranger as you pass them leaving Trader Joe’s. People who move their feet or their body so you can pass more easily. Neighbors who walk in the street so you can pass them at a comfortable distance during the pandemic.
I smile at the generosity of neighbors who comment about my garden as they pass by. I absorb the gentle bows of people who I meditate with. I watch the care that children show as they walk on the narrow paths of my garden, careful that they not step on plants.
I see the spacious smiles of friends I visit on FaceTime. I accept the welcome of other gardeners who open their gardens for my enjoyment. All these glimpses are reminders that humans are social and kind by nature. These gestures of kindness seem to happen with little or no effort.
Spoonful by spoonful, people hand out the generosity that comes so easily when they allow it. And I get many glimpses that allow me to enjoy the bright inner workings of people I meet.