The Kindness Diaries

During the six weeks of recovery from my first surgery I stayed home and watched television, mostly cable news.  During the six weeks since my second surgery I‘ve also stayed home, but with a twist.  For the first time in many years I’ve sworn off TV news and, frankly, it’s been a relief.

That does, of course, leave Netflix.  My problem with Netflix is that I find most of their offerings slow, superficial, or both.  I’ve polled my friends, asking what they like when they binge on recorded TV shows, and most have shared several favorites.  One friend mentioned, “I sometimes spend twelve hours on a weekend and watch an entire series.”  I’ve tried most of their recommendations . . . for about fifteen minutes each.  Nothing felt compelling.

But last night I discovered “The Kindness Diaries” (Second Season), in which a personable Englishman named Leon travels from Northern Alaska to Argentina in his 50-year-old yellow VW Bug he named “Kindness 2.”  The theory is that he has no money and relies entirely upon the kindness of strangers for food, shelter, and help with the inevitable problems that arise from driving his ancient VW bug.  Of course, he has a camera crew with him, and he finished the series, so I’m pretty sure he doesn’t freeze or starve.

One neat feature of the series is that when Leon meets a stranger who is particularly caring, he offers them a gift.  For example, a religious Texan transplanted to Alaska was given a trip to Jerusalem.  To a Canadian who provides a weekly meal for immigrants, Leon is paying the cost of all food and drink for a year.  And to a young woman in America who was homeless in New York when she was ten years old, Leon gifted a service trip to Costa Rica as well as assistance setting up her own private charitable foundation.  And at this point in the season we’re only as far as Salt Lake City!

This show reminded me that we each have our areas of confidence and fear.

I’m fearless about a few things.  For example, I’m entirely confident in my ability to think of a subject and write a blog post in about an hour to share with the world. But counting on help from a stranger when my car is stuck in a snow-filled ditch on the side of the lightly traveled Trans-Canadian highway?  I’d be terrified.

It’s likely that I will never be confident relying entirely on the help of strangers for two months of food and shelter, and that’s okay. Leon’s method of kindness in the world is unique to him, just as mine is to me and yours is to you. The challenge for each of us is to harness our confidence, in whatever forms it may take, in order to help ourselves and benefit others.

For exciting and heart-warming inspiration I highly recommend The Kindness Diaries on Netflix.

Love,

Alan