During a Spring Festival, I travelled to Washington, D.C. on my own. By then, I was already in the second half of my trip. Travelling alone in a big, unfamiliar city made me naturally a little more cautious than usual. I was also not feeling particularly well at the time, so I was a little out of sorts.
When I came out of the museum, an elderly woman suddenly came over and started talking to me. At first, I was a little guarded and only gave a few polite responses. I was in a bit of a daze, so although I was talking to her, I was not really taking much of it in.
But afterwards, I realised that she seemed to have noticed how I was feeling. She said a few things about life and the future, roughly along the lines of not letting whatever was making me unhappy at that moment, make me forget that there were still many things in life to look forward to. I can no longer remember exactly what she said, but I still remember how naturally and positively she spoke.
We did not know each other at all. She did not know who I was or what I was going through, yet she still chose to come over and show me some kindness.
Looking back, I think that is what made the moment so special. Sometimes, a connection between two people does not require knowing each other for very long. Sometimes, it is simply about noticing how someone is feeling and choosing to take one small step towards them.
I did not respond to her as warmly as I might have, and I never had the chance to see her again. But I still remember the kindness of that stranger. Some encounters are brief, but stay with us for a long time.
