Kindness Matters

Mr. Rogers said, “There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” 

That quote was going around in my head while waiting for my flight in a small-town airport that was suffering from a power outage. Lacking light for reading and not wanting to use my valuable phone battery, I observed the people around me. Everyone was being nice. People were allowing others to cut in line ahead of them. I assume the reason was that we were all in the same boat. The situation was an act of nature. None of us were to blame, so it seemed no one was doing any blaming. Things had to be done differently than they are at an airport with power. 

Our luggage had to be searched by hand. All passengers had to be checked in manually. The boarding passes and checked bag tags were handwritten. One passenger was anxiously awaiting reconnection with her young child after a series of long meetings that had kept them apart. One man was meeting his wife at our eventual destination. She had left the day before, but he decided to take this flight a day later. A flight that as of now, no one knew when or if it was leaving. One young family was traveling with their newborn for the first time ever. They came complete with a car seat, stroller, multiple diaper bags, and baby carrier. Every one of the stories that I overheard around me told of people who could have been extremely stressed about the late flight and the possibility of missed connections. If our masks wouldn’t have been covering our faces, I believe there would have been more smiles than not in that terminal.

I don’t know whether to attribute our attitudes to the fact that it was a small plane with fewer passengers or that it was an early morning flight so no one of us was hardened from a day of travel. What I do know is that kindness matters. That entire situation could have been far more complicated and harder to handle if people would have been grumpy or mean.  As it was, we all stood in line calmly waiting to be pat down before boarding the aircraft. 

The next time you are in a situation where you feel yourself growing anxious, uneasy, or angry, try this: The self-explanatory “It’s OK because …” game. You might be amazed at the positivity it can add into a less than optimal situation. It’s OK because we weren’t ready to go home quite yet. It’s OK because life is an adventure. Even on adventures kindness does matter. 

Photo By Iwan Shimko

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Related Articles

North Spokane Open Mic In-Person

Young poets will take center stage at the North Spokane Open Mic. They will share their original work in a supportive and welcoming environment. This event offers high school students a chance to build confidence before entering the world of competitive poetry slams.

Read More »

WA Saves Could Cost Business Owners

Most Washington businesses without an employer-sponsored retirement plan must register for WA Saves, starting July 1, 2027, the state’s new retirement savings program. WA Saves aims to help employees build financial security by requiring businesses to offer payroll-deducted Roth IRAs managed through the state. While beneficial for workers, the program raises concerns for employers, particularly small businesses.

Read More »

Dr. Ernest W Kettel

Dr. Ernest Walther Kettel died in his home peacefully with Jo Ann, his wife of 73 years, at his side on February 7th, 2025 at the age of 96.
He was born on October 8, 1928 at home in Wild Rose, North Dakota to Carl William Kettel and Orla (Kolke) Kettel.

Read More »

Celebrate Your Community At The Annual Art Show

The SCLD Community Art Show is back, inviting artists of all ages to showcase their creativity and love for their community. Free miniature canvases will be available at Spokane County Libraries throughout February. This year’s theme, Celebrate Your Community, encourages participants to highlight what makes their hometown special.

Read More »

GreenHouse Food & Clothing Bank Change Of Hours

The GreenHouse Food and Clothing is once again adjusting its hours, this time reducing service availability and shifting to an earlier schedule. However, food bank representatives encourage those with scheduling conflicts to reach out for potential accommodations.

Read More »

Slideshow: WinterFest 2025

Deer Park’s WinterFest 2025 brought the community together with fun traditions like outhouse races, a bustling craft fair, and live music. Check out our online gallery.

Read More »

Share this!

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Share this!

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Read more news.

North Spokane Open Mic In-Person

Young poets will take center stage at the North Spokane Open Mic. They will share their original work in a supportive and welcoming environment. This event offers high school students a chance to build confidence before entering the world of competitive poetry slams.

Read More »

WA Saves Could Cost Business Owners

Most Washington businesses without an employer-sponsored retirement plan must register for WA Saves, starting July 1, 2027, the state’s new retirement savings program. WA Saves aims to help employees build financial security by requiring businesses to offer payroll-deducted Roth IRAs managed through the state. While beneficial for workers, the program raises concerns for employers, particularly small businesses.

Read More »

Subscribe to our emails

Use the form below to sign up to receive news via email at no cost to you.

Read & Support The

Local news to keep you informed and entertained. The Deer Park Gazette is locally owned and operated. When you support the Deer Park Gazette, you support local writers and photographers.