“It may have been a routine thing for you, but your act of kindness meant the world to me.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

Thanks to a reader for sharing a note sent to Metro about “a U Street Metro attendant who did something positive and deserves to be commended for it. It was simple, but meant so much to me:

I can’t thank you enough.

It may have been a routine thing for you, but your act of kindness meant the world to me.

I dropped my scarf while running to catch a late train, and you called after me as a man (whom I wish I could also thank) was returning it to me. I didn’t understand you at first as you yelled to me, and may have even seemed annoyed or ungrateful, but the fact that you made sure I received it was very much appreciated. I didn’t even fully process it until after it happened. You could have shrugged your shoulders or cared less, but you didn’t.

A very close friend gave the scarf to me many years ago, and I would have been devastated to lose it. The simple act of calling after me meant so much, and your kindness made me reevaluate my interactions with others.

We are strangers, but we are humans who care for people, and you reminded me that tonight. I only wish I could also thank the man who found my scarf. I don’t know you, but I wish you so much good. And with all of the grief the Metro gets, it should be noted that there are people in its charge who work hard and contribute positively to its riders. It does not go unnoticed.

It’s just a scarf, but it taught me a lesson. Never forget how your simple act of generosity could change a stranger’s poor attitude — I know I won’t!”