So a little bit of a rant post… How hard is it, really, to respond to someone else’s small act of kindness? I’m not talking about grand gestures or life-changing sacrifices — just the little everyday moments. A “thank you,” a smile, or even a quick nod can go a long way in acknowledging another person’s effort.

The other day, I held the door open for a father and his three kids. You’d think that would earn me at least a smile, right? Nope. He walked straight through, kids in tow, without so much as a glance in my direction. Now, before anyone jumps in with, “He was probably distracted,” let me say — I get it. Parenting is a full-contact sport. Distractions are part of the job description. But he definitely saw me open that door, and in that moment, choosing not to acknowledge it stung just a little. It happens all the time but for some reason today it just got me.

Here’s the thing: I don’t hold doors, pick up dropped items, or let someone merge in front of me in traffic just for the thank-you. That’s not the point. Acts of kindness should never come with a string attached. But I do hope that I never become so wrapped up in my own world that I can’t offer a simple acknowledgment when someone else shows kindness to me.

Because kindness doesn’t stop at the act itself. It continues in the way we receive it. Gratitude, even in the smallest form, keeps that cycle of goodness alive. And who knows? That one smile or “thanks” might encourage the other person to keep spreading kindness, too.

So maybe the next time someone holds the door for us, lets us cut in line, or even offers a compliment, we can take half a second to nod, smile, or whisper those two little words: thank you. It costs nothing, but it means everything.

After all, what is it we want to teach our children? That kindness matters. That gratitude matters. That even the tiniest acts of acknowledgment can make the world a softer, better place. 💕