Random acts of kindness. Paying it forward. Love these concepts. They make the world a better place.

When my daughter Jessica left after her recent visit home, I found several of her wardrobe staples on the drying rack in our basement. I hurriedly mailed them to her  as I dropped off our “stop mail” cards at the Post Office for vacation, and never gave it another thought.

I ran across the receipt Monday and emailed. “Did you ever receive the box I sent with your clothes in it?”

“No.”

“Hmm. I mailed it almost two weeks ago.”

I had assigned a nine to her house number where an eight belonged.

Her response: “Uh Oh!”

Tracking revealed twelve entries. “Arrived at USPS Destination, Out for Delivery, Undeliverable, No Such Number . . .” The package had gone out with a carrier three times, only to be returned to her post office.

Remember the old days at the United States Post Office? It was where the grumpy folk worked.  I noticed several years ago, it was as if someone had held a meeting and made a big announcement: “Stop being shitty to our customers. We have competition now.” A cloud of positive Karma was released around the USPS. Even so, Dustin at the Englewood, Colorado Post Office went above and beyond.

When I called to inquire about the package, he said, “It’s out with the carrier now. Was scanned undeliverable at 10:48 this morning. You want me to try to catch it on the way back through and change the number?”

“That would be great,” I said, relieved. To some it may have been just another incorrectly addressed package. But to my Jessica it was her favorite black legging pants, the perfect comfy summer dress, and a few of her favorite summer tops. To me, it was my flub up that was about to cause angst to someone I love. Dustin got it.

“You want me to call you if I find it?”

Again, “That would be great. Yes, please.”

He kept his word. He phoned yesterday and the package showed up on Jessica’s front porch this morning. I’m grateful. Clearly, I made a careless mistake and he could have just explained that the box would be sent back to me eventually, and I could resend it. But he didn’t. He showed kindness by stepping out of his way to save me the trouble and Jessica a couple more weeks without her favorite black leggings.

I appreciate it when someone does something unnecessary and special for me and now I intend to pay it forward, and that’s how it goes. Thanks to Dustin, the world becomes a kinder place.