Acts of Kindness

Jennifer and I were watching the TV show Undercover Boss the other night which featured United Van Lines.  This show usually takes the CEO of a featured company undercover to visit the front line employees and facilities.  Employees who they worked with under guise are then brought back to the corporate office for feedback.

This particular episode brought back strong feelings from our initial diagnosis strangely enough.  As we watched the movers in the show packing a house up and then moving  the heavy furniture and limitless boxes onto the truck, we were reminded of an incredible deed from over 9 years ago.

I worked for Sprint as a Data Sales Manager before the ALS diagnosis and had some wonderful friends and colleagues.  We had sold our two story home in favor of a ranch style for mobility purposes.  About a month before we moved, we were surprised by my old crew at Sprint with a timely gift.

One of Sprint’s major accounts back then was Graebel Van Lines.  My former colleagues had asked them for a favor.  We were presented with a $5000 moving package at a casual Sprint gathering and it knocked us for a loop.  As I write, I am reliving the relief and joy of that presentation with tears in my eyes.

This was the 5th house we were moving into, not including two apartments in between.  Not once had we had professional movers.  We really didn’t have a full grasp of how much they really do.

Moving day came and of all days on September 11, 2001.  The movers had already unplugged the TV’s when we received the call from a friend about the attack.  We plugged the TV back in and watched in horror as the second plane hit.

So on this doubly emotional day we had as stress-free of a move as could be possible thanks to some very thoughtful friends and an incredibly generous company.  Our move went over $5000 and Graebel waived the additional fees!

These memories keep my positive mental attitude intact and remind us how very fortunate and blessed we are.  In your daily life, what are you doing to keep positive and mindful of your blessings.  Are you paying forward random acts of kindness that may impact someone for life?