Just stop. Put away the phone.
Look into the eyes of someone nearby—
maybe in the grocery store line
behind you—and offer:

Would you like to go ahead of me?
I’m not in a hurry.

Or to the harried checker scanning
thousands of items on a shift that’s
lasting longer than she’d like:
You’re so speedy. Love the way
you pack those bags.

Return the cart to the little corral,
or better, hand it off to the young man
rounding up the stray critters
with a sincere thank you.

To the woman at the bank: Great scarf.
To the child carrying a fresh drawing:
How pretty is that? Tell me about it.
To the teenager down the block,
raking, as you stroll by:
How’s your day going?

Then listen. Truly listen.

Hold the door open for the man
walking in as you’re walking out,
and smile. Toss smiles like confetti stars.
Grin when someone lobs one back at you.
Doesn’t matter where they come from
or if they voted or how. Doesn’t matter
that they dress differently or appear
to be strangers or speak a language
that is not yours.

We’re all in this together, we humans.
All we’ve got is each other on this
blue marble of a planet, which,
remember, from space reveals
no borders, no walls, no divisions.

So more of this: kindness,
tender smiles, a helping hand
or two. Compassion. Hugs.

Let’s start with you:

Thank you, dear person,
for everything you do.
You’re amazing.