“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” –Mother Teresa

A mother waited at a hospital entrance for someone to bring her car around. She watched for a spark of hope, tired after another day by her comatose daughter’s hospital bed.

The automatic doors swung open, and a couple stepped inside. The wife look as if she had strolled out of a high-fashion photo shoot. She had on a cloud of turquoise, brown and cream paired with ornate Western boots and turquoise jewelry.

The mother told the woman her ensemble looked beautiful, and the couple quickly came to her side.

“Is that your daughter on the ninth floor?” they asked. “All of us up there are praying for her. When we’re feeling overwhelmed, we think of what you must be going through and count our blessings.”

Their compassion brought a wave of comfort the mother hadn’t felt in weeks. She knew others were aware of the challenges her family faced and had prayed for them. A few kind words broke the ice and give the couple permission to voice their support.

How often, in our search for an OolaLife, do we miss opportunities to share kindness with others? Our journey isn’t carried out in solitary confinement. We’re all on this path together. We know, too, the ripple of joy that comes from a random kind word. It brings a smile to the recipient’s face and puts a spring in the giver’s step.

As Mother Teresa once said, the echoes are truly endless.

• Today, set an echo in motion. Thank someone for a simple kindness. Let a parent know what a fine young man they have when the little one holds the door open for you. Cheer someone on and congratulate them on their success. Let them know, in a world that is spiraling away from face-to-face conversation, that there’s still someone out there who cares enough to speak up. (Know, too, that it’s contagious. Your recipient will probably return the favor.)
• Don’t stop with words. The next time you go to Starbucks, tell the drive-through clerk to put the $1.15 you’d get back toward the next customer in line. We’ve been at both ends of this one, and it always feels good. Share your talents. Drop off a package of socks: People who care for those who are homeless say socks are among the most requested items. Think of all the accelerators this will add to your quest for an OolaLife: love, gratitude, humility and so much more. It’s like rocket fuel for the soul.
• Share a kind word with a family member or close friend. Too often, we get so caught up in the give-and-take of everyday life that we forget to thank our husband for taking out the garbage or our wife for making sure we had something for breakfast. Don’t miss a chance to tell your daughter how proud you are of her or your son how much you love him. They might look on you with suspicion at first, wondering what you want of them. But soon, you’ll see the echoes of Oola follow your lead.

From there, remember to be grateful, have faith and go get your OolaLife!