My alarm went off and I woke to find myself drenched in sweat. There are certainly hotter places to be in the middle of summer than New York City, but considering we never sleep without the A/C running, I knew something had gone amiss. Sure enough, I got out of bed to find my air conditioner making a terrible noise; one that quite resembles my wife’s and my dog, Sadie, every time she decides to swallow pieces of her chew toy. Oh, great, I thought to myself. A broken A/C unit just days after I was laid off from my job.  

How does it always seem to happen like that? 

I walked myself straight to a chilled shower, hoping to wash off my early morning frustration. That didn’t last long. Halfway through, I remembered that I had left my car double-parked the night before and was now begging for a fat ticket… oh, the joys of city-living.  

I got dressed and sprinted outside, knowing a parking fine would only add one hundred dollars’ worth of pressure to our already daunting financial predicament. To my surprise, our car was exactly as I’d left it – without a ticket on my windshield. So, I got into our 15-year-old Kia, lowered the windows (nope – no A/C here either), and sat there, hoping a neighbor would soon leave, allowing me to vulture their parking spot.  

Twenty minutes passed. Then another thirty. Just as I was considering leaving the car and taking the ticket as a “cost-of-living expense,” there was a gentle knock on my passenger-door window. It was a neighbor of mine who lived across the street.  

“Hey, man,” he started. “I noticed you’ve been out here for a while. I’m leaving for work in about fifteen minutes if you’d like my spot.” I breathed a sigh of relief and graciously accepted his offer.  

I finished out my stint in the car reflecting on how this guy – whose first name was the only detail I knew about him – not only helped save me money, but truly helped make my day better. His simple act of thoughtfulness took me by surprise, and I found myself pondering its joyous effect on me all day. 

It might sound like an exaggeration, but this man could drive the most passionate roast beef connoisseur to veganism.

Later that evening, I made my way to our favorite neighborhood grocery store to do our weekly shopping. As I approached the deli area, I felt my stomach drop. Of course, the grumpy, rude attendant would be working tonight, I thought, recalling the extraordinarily taxing day I had just endured. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this man could drive the most passionate roast beef connoisseur to veganism.  

I stepped up to the counter and, as usual, placed my order to the back of his head (he was not a fan of eye contact). But as I stood there waiting, I was hit with a wave of compassion and a revelational thought: Wasn’t it me who was this disgruntled just a few hours ago? And how simple was my neighbor’s kindness that lifted my morale?  

I began deliberating on whether to offer this man a little bit of grace from what was offered to me earlier. Even if I did, what would I do or say? How do you give back to Ebenezer Scrooge’s grocer? 

He finished wrapping the last bit of my order and, as he turned to hand it to me, I noticed his nametag read, “HOWARD.” Okay – this was my chance.  

“Appreciate it, Howard. By the way – my wife really likes how thin you cut the deli meat. Thanks for always taking diligent care with our orders.” Did I really just compliment this man on something a meat-slicing machine does? I was surely due for a snarky comment back. 

It felt like a small bonfire had been kindled in my chest and I left the store blinking out a few tears.

Instead, for the first time in the four years that I’ve lived in this neighborhood, I saw Howard smile. He looked right into my eyes and said, “Hey, I appreciate that. You have no idea how much I needed it today.” It felt like a small bonfire had been kindled in my chest and I left the store blinking out a few tears.  

On a day when I struggled to find the light, the simplest act of kindness from a stranger broke the clouds and got me through.

I walked home, basking in the incredible lesson life had just taught me. On a day when I struggled to find the light, the simplest act of kindness from a stranger broke the clouds and got me through. I really needed my neighbor that morning. And Howard really needed me. What was more, it cost me nothing. With a simple glance past my momentary troubles, I realized that I had so much to offer to those around me. Even on ninety-degree days with no air conditioning.  

As I walked up to my apartment building, I noticed my neighbor’s car double-parked not far from where mine had been earlier. It hit me that I was about to leave for a meeting, so I figured I’d keep this going and return the favor. I buzzed up to his apartment and offered him my parking spot, which he accepted, and we came right down. We chatted for a few moments, and I shared about my terrible week, which kicked off with me losing my job. His eyes widened and he said to me, “You know, we just had someone resign today and my company is in desperate need of a replacement. Can you come in for an interview tomorrow?” 

Who knew a parking spot could become a job?  

Who knew thinly-sliced deli meat could turn into a compliment?  

Who knew I had so much to offer?