RVA Coffee Love

2/14/14:



     Do me a favor. Don't worry, it's not hard and it will only take a second. Think really hard about the past month. Name the last selfless act of kindness you did for somebody. Nothing immediatley springing to mind? Ok, then let's cut the time down. What selfless thing did you do for someone this week? Hell, name something you did today.

     What did you come up with? Did you hold the elevator for that person you saw coming a ways behind you? Did you stop to help someone pick up something they dropped? How about give an older person that closer parking spot even though it means you had to walk further in the cold? Or, did you really not go out of your way to do something selfish, but just what was conveniently polite (guilty).

     Let's face it... as much as we never admit it, there are plenty of us who make no effort outside of what fits into our "now moment" to do something thankless for someone else. It doesn't make us bad people. It doesn't make us selfish. And it certainly doesn't mean we never do anything nice. It just means that we are typical humans trying to survive our everyday lives. It's easy sometimes to forget that we aren't the only ones who battle against a variety of odds that make up our everyday lives. There are others out there fighting our same fight. And sometimes one simple gesture can change their whole day.

     This coming Friday, there is a group of Richmonders who are trying to show the difference one spot of kindness can have. RVA Coffee Love (RVA Coffee Love Facebook) has a simple mission for you this Valentines Day: buy a stranger a cup of coffee. Small. Basic. Beautiful. The best kind of selfless giving there is. You and I both know you'll be stopping to get coffee anyway. So, why not buy an extra cup? Think about how you would feel in that situation. It's already Friday so you're already happy. It's early and all you need is that little pick-me-up to get through the day just to embrace the glory of the weekend. Then, boom! The person in front of you turns around and with a gentle smile hands you a hot steaming cup for free. Friday complete! So, pass that amazing feeling onto someone else.

     Once you buy that cup of coffee or are on the glorious receiving end, let Richmond know how you feel. Use the hashtag #RVACoffeeLove on your social media. Or, just accept the shocked thanks you'll get with a warm "Have a wonderful day" and go out into the world with your head held high. Either way, share a little love this Friday.