One day, I saw a woman walking down the curb with her three little children. She was stopping at every parking meter, carefully tapping on each one. At the time, I was curious but didn’t think much of it. I wondered what she was doing—was she paying for all the meters? It seemed a bit unusual, but since I was in a hurry, I didn’t stop to ask.
Then today, while trying to get my two-and-a-half-year-old out of the car, I reached into my purse to find some change for the parking meter. To my surprise, I spotted a dime taped right onto the meter’s side. That dime gave me a full thirty minutes of free parking! I looked around and noticed that every parking meter along the entire stretch of Seneca Street had a dime taped to it.
That’s when it hit me — this must be the same woman I saw the other day. She wasn’t just paying for parking; she was quietly leaving dimes on each meter for anyone who needed a little help. A simple, thoughtful gift to strangers she didn’t even know.
This small act of kindness truly touched my heart. It reminded me that sometimes, the most impactful gestures aren’t grand or loud, but quiet and thoughtful. And what touched me even more was knowing she was teaching her children this lesson through her actions—showing them how to care for others and make the world a better place in everyday, practical ways.
Watching her raise her kids with such compassion and generosity fills me with hope. In a world that can often feel rushed and self-centered, this woman’s quiet generosity is a beautiful example of how small, consistent acts of kindness ripple out to touch many lives.
It made me realize that kindness doesn’t always need a spotlight. Sometimes, it’s about leaving a dime taped to a parking meter — a simple reminder that we’re not alone, that someone cares, and that a little help can come when you least expect it. I want to take a moment to honor this woman’s kindness and the powerful example she’s setting for her children and her community.
If more of us lived with such quiet generosity, imagine how much brighter the world could be.
