No Power. No Problem – Well, Sort of
A series of tornadoes swept through northeast Ohio this past Tuesday, and we are now on day 5 with no power, which, in my neck of the woods, also means no water.
All around us is the sound of generators running, long lines at the one gas station, hotels full, restaurants, and coffee shops with lines out the door. Our generator? Well, it is on back order with no sense of urgency on our part—until there was a sense of urgency. Sigh…
While this has undoubtedly been an inconvenience, there are no reports of loss of life. So, no, not tragic.
Now, we simply wait and practice patience, which is typically not my best skill. I’m still learning. But over the last five days, I have watched many people exercise that skill seemingly with ease.
As I wait, wait for the power to return, wait for my coffee, wait to find an outlet and a seat, here is what I have discovered.
Simple Kindness is Underrated
For the past five days, I have traveled to many places each morning to find a spot with Wi-Fi so I could work. Most places had people standing wall to wall trying to charge a phone, make a call, or get work done on their computers.
On day two, I found a Starbucks coffee shop a half-hour from my home. I arrived at 6:00 a.m., found a spot to sit, and then went to the counter to order. The busy staff looked exhausted, as many had no power in their homes either and were working with an unusually high volume of customers.
When I approached the counter, the first staff member to greet me asked if I had power. We exchanged stories about our struggles with no showers, flashlights, etc. Then she smiled and said, “Stay as long as you need; we are offering free refills.”
As I sat there for 13 hours working, I listened. All day long, I heard the same kind of words expressed to people waiting in the lines. I watched people slide their chairs over to allow others to use outlets. And each day, as I returned to my new “work” space, it was the same.
Now, you would think that gathering a group of smelly, tired, sleep-deprived, frustrated people would be a recipe for selfish, angry, and nasty behavior. But it was the opposite.
Yep, the kindness seemed contagious, and there’s actually scientific evidence to support this observation.
The Science Behind Kindness
Kindness is often seen as a soft virtue, something that’s nice to have but not essential. However, research in psychology and neuroscience tells a different story. Acts of kindness, both big and small, have been shown to increase levels of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which is linked to feelings of bonding and trust. Oxytocin reduces blood pressure and improves overall heart health, creating what’s known as the “helper’s high.”
I could feel it. It was palpable.
As if lowering blood pressure and giving us an injection of love hormone wasn’t enough, kindness triggers the release of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of satisfaction and well-being. This is why when we engage in acts of kindness, we help others and enhance our mental and physical health.
One study from the University of British Columbia found that participants who engaged in acts of kindness for others experienced a significant increase in their own happiness and a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression. The ripple effect of kindness is powerful—it impacts not only the receiver but also the giver and those who witness the act.
Kindness in the Face of Adversity
Sitting here in my newfound home at Starbucks, surrounded by people who were stressed yet choosing to be kind, I realized that these small acts created a sense of community. The shared adversity brought us closer together, and kindness became the currency for us to navigate the challenges.
I recognize that it’s easy to be kind when life is smooth, but kindness reveals its true power during times of hardship. In those moments, kindness becomes a lifeline—a way to remind ourselves and others that we’re not alone, that we’re all in this together.
A Call to Action
As the days without power continue, I find myself reflecting on the lessons of these small, simple acts. What if we all consciously tried to carry this kindness beyond our loss of power inconvenience or our daily annoyances with each other?
Kindness doesn’t require grand gestures; it’s found in the small, everyday moments when we choose to connect with others meaningfully. And the beauty of kindness is that it doesn’t deplete—it multiplies. One act leads to another, creating a chain reaction that can light up even the darkest days.
As the power eventually returns and life returns to normal, I will hang on to the power of kindness that made this process a bit smoother.
Remember that “patience skill” that I am still working on? Well, my time here in my little corner of the coffee shop has forced me to slow down, listen, absorb, and really see the kindness of humans.
Kindness can be so simple if we let it be.
In a world that can feel overwhelming and so loud, filled with angry tirades, fearful messages, hate, and bullying behavior. Simple and kind are what I crave these days.
Sitting here writing this, I wonder what if our political leaders, CEOs, and others in positions of power could learn from the baristas in my coffee shop?
What if kindness, inclusion, and selflessness, not selfish words and actions, were the standard and not the norm? I know it’s a lofty goal, but a girl can dream.
For now, I will carry the kindness that I found in this coffee shop and I will think of the people here as my role models.
