A guide of kind

It's been 7 months since I've published my last book. As an author you'd think by now I'm ready to publish my next. The thing is I'm nowhere near to doing that. The world has been falling apart recently and I have been struggling a lot with ideas for my next book. First the virus outbreak and now it's the countrywide protests for black lives. If you think about it there are topics I could write about, but none of them fits my flow. It's either violence or disease and I just can't think of a way to write with those topics.

Its been 3 months since the stay at home order was put out and we are finally allowed to go to the cafes and restaurants again. Today I decided to go to my favorite cafe place hoping to gain some kind of inspiration for writing.

It was a busy day in Greendale. Luckily I rode on my bike to the cafe. The breezy wind flew through my brown wavy hair and gave me chills done my spine. I rode past the closed stores to Simply beans Cafe. There was a spaced line but finally, I made it in. Everyone seemed so gloomy and It felt I made a mistake coming here. I don't even know what kind of inspiration I was expecting to see. It was just a small Cafe shop that I was over here hoping to get inspiration for a book. Feeling stupid and disappointed in my false hope I ordered my white chocolate mocha and sat near the back windows.

As I was waiting for my drink I saw a waitress trip and spill an iced tea on a lady's lap. The lady stood up and brushed off the ice. She twisted her dress squeezing out as much as the drink as she could get out. Then in a matter of seconds, she helps the waitress up and asks her if she was okay. The waitress nodded and started apologizing for the incident a bunch of times. The lady told her not to worry about it and simply asked for a to-go iced tea. The lady took out and wore her long jacket and somehow was able to cover up the mess of the leftover soaked iced tea. I watched her walk out with her drink finally realizing that my drink had already arrived. I replayed everything that just happened in my mind and that's when it hit me!

The perfect story would be of kindness! Kindness is what the world is struggling with. Kindness is what the world needs to see and hear. The world needs something that'll fill their hearts up with old happy memories. What better thing to fill you up with happiness than kindness??

I took out my note pad and pen and I started jotting down what I just witnessed. I've never felt so proud of myself. This might just be my best story yet and I can't believe I doubted myself on coming here.

I drank my mocha and rode home as fast as I could! I sat behind my desk and opened up my writing journal. I turned on my lamp and started writing as much as I could. I was on a huge writing flow and it felt like there was nothing in the world that could stop me. Of course, If that was true I wouldn't have fallen asleep midway in my writing.

In the morning I woke up to the sound of my neighbor mowing her lawn. I realized I had slept in my day clothes last night and the thought of wearing the clothes again didn't seem to amuse me so I just changed into some new pair of jeans and a sweater. I made eggs and bacon for breakfast and started writing my to-do list for the day. There was so much that had to be done and writing my tasks down seemed like the easiest way to remember.

After breakfast, I reviewed my story draft from last night. It was kind of a mess but I didn't blame myself because my thoughts were everywhere and it felt impossible to start one idea and not think of another at the same time. After reviewing it though, I decided a few changes here and there and it could be a perfect children's book on kindness. I loved how this could be for kids but I wanted to do more. I wanted to reach this message out for not just little kids but adults as well. So I thought, what better way to do that than...using SOCIAL MEDIA!

All the possibilities for spreading my story were perfect. Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, & even the news could work. The only question is, how would I tell the story? I couldn't just show them a children's book and ask them to read it. Nor could I just record a video of my self talking about the incident...it would just be awkward because I'm not even the one who did this act of kindness. But wait maybe I could record a video! Not of me of course, but the lady at the cafe! It could be an interview! I could ask her why she let the waitress go with nothing but a request for another drink. If I can find the waitress who spilled the drink, I can even ask her how she felt about the lady's kind act. This felt amazing because everything was coming together however, the only problem now is how will I find this lady?

I put my writing journal and pen inside my mini bag that I decided to hold. I went on my bike crossing my fingers that the lady would return to the cafe today. The chances of her returning were low but I had to give it a shot. I rode as fast as I could and even then when I arrived she wasn't there. I sat at the same table the lady yesterday sat at and to my surprise, the same waitress came to my service. 

I recorded the conversation with my phone and asked her a few questions about how she felt and if she got this reaction a lot? In the end, she ended up in tears and I wasn't able to write the things she said so I was glad I thought ahead and recorded the conversation. I apologized for taking up her time and decided to leave the cafe.

Instead of riding my bike, I walked it. I looked back at the cafe and decided there's no point in coming back tomorrow. I was chasing after a literal stranger. Suddenly, to the corner of my eye, I noticed a girl who bumped into a lady from behind her. You would think that the lady yelled and said "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOUNG LADY". Instead, she whispered something into her ear and the girl just nodded and went on with her day. This behavior seemed so familiar...OMG, could she be the one from the cafe?!?! I rode on my bike up closer and YES it was her!! 

I took out my phone and started recording the conversation because she had agreed on the mini-interview. I was amazed at how her words were so elegant throughout the whole thing. When I was finished I apologized for taking up her time and thanked her so much for everything she had done unknowingly.

I got home and reviewed the things the waitress had said. I figured a few trims in the audio here and there and it would be perfect. When I listened to the lady's audio I could tell she knew what she was talking about. I knew her words could inspire many people out there but I realized she had also inspired me. If it wasn't for her help, who knows when I would have continued my writing. I was so grateful for being able to witness her two kind actions. This lady inspired me and will inspire everyone else to be kind and most importantly to pay it forward.