TREASURE ON A TRAIN
I found some treasure last weekend when I went home on the train.
You're probably wondering what kind of treasure, right? Maybe I picked up a twenty dollar bill stuck in the seat. Maybe I found someone's missing ipod. Maybe there was a famous celebrity sitting next to me.
You'd all be very wrong.
Let's just say I was having a rough few weeks leading up to midterms, with a million other burdens bearing down on me. Slow trains and wintry rains also tend to make me as gloomy as the next fever-ridden passenger who forgot their umbrella on the coldest, rainiest day of the month. The last thing I wanted to do that day was smile and "simply remember my favorite things" to feel better.
So imagine my surprise when I squelched my way into a seat, and saw a paper crane perched on the metal heating vent between my leg and the wall. It was so odd, I couldn't help but pick it up. That's when I realized there was writing on its little wings.
It read, "Smile! :)"
I think it was probably a kid or a another bored rider who took the time to make a paper crane out of a train ticket. But on the other hand, it made this cold feeling grow warm inside of me. Pretty soon, the fact that I was freezing and sick didn't seem to matter anymore. Because at least the train was toasty, I did bring a jacket before I left my apartment, and I had the best gift a stranger could have unintentionally given me that day.
Such is the power of kind, little gestures... Turning someone's bad day into a good one. Sometimes, without even realizing it. Whoever that person is, I am very grateful to him or her.
Midterms don't allow much free time, but I wanted to take a moment to share this with you - if only to spread the smile around.
You're probably wondering what kind of treasure, right? Maybe I picked up a twenty dollar bill stuck in the seat. Maybe I found someone's missing ipod. Maybe there was a famous celebrity sitting next to me.
You'd all be very wrong.
Let's just say I was having a rough few weeks leading up to midterms, with a million other burdens bearing down on me. Slow trains and wintry rains also tend to make me as gloomy as the next fever-ridden passenger who forgot their umbrella on the coldest, rainiest day of the month. The last thing I wanted to do that day was smile and "simply remember my favorite things" to feel better.
So imagine my surprise when I squelched my way into a seat, and saw a paper crane perched on the metal heating vent between my leg and the wall. It was so odd, I couldn't help but pick it up. That's when I realized there was writing on its little wings.
It read, "Smile! :)"
I think it was probably a kid or a another bored rider who took the time to make a paper crane out of a train ticket. But on the other hand, it made this cold feeling grow warm inside of me. Pretty soon, the fact that I was freezing and sick didn't seem to matter anymore. Because at least the train was toasty, I did bring a jacket before I left my apartment, and I had the best gift a stranger could have unintentionally given me that day.
Such is the power of kind, little gestures... Turning someone's bad day into a good one. Sometimes, without even realizing it. Whoever that person is, I am very grateful to him or her.
Midterms don't allow much free time, but I wanted to take a moment to share this with you - if only to spread the smile around.