Strawberry Creme Savers and Werther’s Originals. That’s the taste, the smell, and the memory that comes to mind when I think “Random Act of Kindness.”
Growing up in Southern California, all my childhood summers were spent at my grandparent’s community pool. And on special afternoons we would see her. “Ladybug.” That’s what she told us to call her. She flaunted long, red-dyed hair to match her lipstick, leathery tan skin, and dressed exclusively in black and white. About 70-years-old, she was just as elegant as she was uncouth.
It was always exciting to spot Ladybug at the pool, sunbathing in a wide-brimmed hat and bug-eye sunglasses. Her pockets were lined with fistfuls of candy for us kids – Strawberry Creme Savers and Werther’s Originals. She’d hand each of us two pieces of candy and say in her rough, husky voice, “Here you go honey. Be good to your grandparents!” We’d walk away with sweets, smiles, and a fond memory of the kind, red-headed lady from the pool.
Ladybug didn’t have to go out of her way to make us feel special … but she did it anyway! Her Random Acts of Kindness have endured decades. Though Ladybug may have passed, I still smile and think of her whenever I spot those candies at the grocery store or see a ladybug in my backyard.
This is the type of feeling we try to replicate at Data41. No matter how big or small the act, it’s the impression you leave that matters.
The Data41 team inspires kindness wherever they go:
- Jeff purchased a videogame for a surprised, and very grateful young boy at GameStop.
- Juan gave a stranger a Starbucks gift card because she was having a bad day.
- Pat changed a flat tire for two elderly ladies in a grocery store parking lot.
- Kristyn baked cookies for her neighbors to get to know them better.
But the most important pillar of Random Acts of Kindness is intention. Data41ers don’t do it so they can broadcast it to the world via social media, or because they’re expecting something in return. They do it because they want to. And what’s more is that it has become second nature to them. Just like Ladybug, they go out of their way to make people feel special or lend a helping hand because kindness is best when shared with the world.
So, make like Dolly Parton and “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”
Philanthropy:
Check out Data41’s 2023 Philanthropy: Operation Help A Hero (OHH).
OHH is a public charity dedicated to the well-being and care of our American military members. Their programs support military units and families as they prepare for separation, while they endure the challenges of deployment, and as they transition back to the US. If you’d like to donate, click here.
