Spreading Some Goodwill

The great Indian activist and political leader Mohandas Gandhi once said:  “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” I couldn’t agree more.  I feel that a city can shape its culture for the better through the acts of its citizens.

With around 100,000 residents, New Bedford may never have the charm of a small town. Most people who live here do not know their fellow citizens.  Regardless of whether you are familiar with the people that surround you or not, there are things we can do to become better citizens, and to improve the goodwill between each other.

Let me share a short experience that may help understand where I’m coming from.  The other day I needed to send out a dozen bubble mailers for my business, so I walked over to the New Bedford Post office on Pleasant Street.  When I arrived, there were three lines; two for passports and one for mail. Apparently, Saturdays are major passport days. While I was waiting, an older gentleman got in line behind me.  I noticed out of the corner of my eye that he was holding one of those delivery slips you receive when there is a package waiting for you to pick up at the post office.  As we got closer to the front of the line, I asked the gentleman if he would like to go ahead of me; I had over a dozen pieces of mail to ship out, and he simply needed to pick up a piece of mail.

He responded to my offer by saying, “No, that’s okay.  I have time.”

After a few more attempts, I finally convinced him to go ahead of me.  Graciously, he thanked me twice before going to the window.  Then two more times while he was at the window, and once more as he left with his package.  By liberating this man from five extra, boring minutes of waiting in line at the post office, I obviously lifted his mood and impacted his day in a positive way.  The way this man reacted showed me that it was a long time since he’d experienced a nice gesture like that in New Bedford.

On my way back from the post office I thought: What if everyone in New Bedford made it a point to put others ahead of themselves? Would the goodwill become infectious?

Here is a list of some things everyday citizens can do to start spreading goodwill, in the hopes of bringing the citizens of New Bedford closer together and dissolving the negative perceptions of  our city.

• When cooking something, put together an extra portion for a neighbor.  Bring a note with you in case they are not home.
• Say hello to people walking past you on the street.  Keep saying hello until at least one person answers you in kind.
• While at places like the grocery store or the post office, let someone cut in line who doesn’t have as many items as you.
• Leave $5 or $10 at a coffee shop for our police, fire and military men and women.  Or, if you are feeling like Gandhi, leave money for the New Bedford parking meter maids.

These are simple ways to improve the atmosphere of New Bedford. Let your actions today help spread goodwill to your fellow residents, and hopefully they’ll pass it on to someone else.  If everyone in New Bedford committed a few selfless acts each week, we just might get some of that small town feel.

Leave a comment or some more suggestions on being a good citizen!