An Inspiring Act of Kindness—And a NICE Challenge
This week, you no doubt heard the story of Daniel DePrimo, the New York City police officer who was photographed giving a pair of shoes he’d purchased with his own money to a barefoot homeless man in Times Square. The image, taken by a tourist from Arizona was so powerful that it quickly went viral after she emailed a copy to the NYPD and they subsequently posted it on their official Facebook page.
When asked about his act of generosity, Officer DePrimo admited he was shocked by all of the attention it has received. To him, it was just the right thing to do, explaining to the New York Times, “It was freezing out and you could see the blisters on the man’s feet. I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold.”
But, just because it was the right thing to do, doesn’t mean it isn’t noteworthy. And it’s a powerful example of how even our smallest actions can have an outsize impact. As a police officer, DePrimo took an oath to “protect and serve.” And perhaps in his mind, he was simply doing his job. But, in that brief moment of spontaneity, he has done much more than help a single needy person. In fact, he has helped the rest of us, too. This week, DePrimo’s act of kindness, compassion, and generosity has been an inspiration, stopping millions in their tracks so that they could marvel at the power of humanity.
With that in mind, we challenge all of you to find one act of kindness you can commit today, tomorrow, and every day. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top; it can be something as small as helping a neighbor with a heavy box or holding the elevator door for a frenzied coworker at the end of the day. One by one, these acts make a difference, creating a multiplier effect in which one act of kindness begets another. So, consider DePrimo’s gesture the first link in a chain reaction. Then, you make the next one, and watch what happens.
When asked about his act of generosity, Officer DePrimo admited he was shocked by all of the attention it has received. To him, it was just the right thing to do, explaining to the New York Times, “It was freezing out and you could see the blisters on the man’s feet. I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold.”
But, just because it was the right thing to do, doesn’t mean it isn’t noteworthy. And it’s a powerful example of how even our smallest actions can have an outsize impact. As a police officer, DePrimo took an oath to “protect and serve.” And perhaps in his mind, he was simply doing his job. But, in that brief moment of spontaneity, he has done much more than help a single needy person. In fact, he has helped the rest of us, too. This week, DePrimo’s act of kindness, compassion, and generosity has been an inspiration, stopping millions in their tracks so that they could marvel at the power of humanity.
With that in mind, we challenge all of you to find one act of kindness you can commit today, tomorrow, and every day. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top; it can be something as small as helping a neighbor with a heavy box or holding the elevator door for a frenzied coworker at the end of the day. One by one, these acts make a difference, creating a multiplier effect in which one act of kindness begets another. So, consider DePrimo’s gesture the first link in a chain reaction. Then, you make the next one, and watch what happens.
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