Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness goes beyond being a nice guy.
The subway was slow. Normally the ride takes no more than 20 minutes, but this day it took twice the time. People were not happy. In spite of this, as the train car became more crowded, a guy who was sitting next to me got up and offered his seat to a woman.
Now, you might think this woman was pregnant or drop-dead gorgeous. She didn't look preggers, nor was she the type to appear in fashion magazines. She was simply a woman who got on the train.
This guy didn't hesitate.
I had been sitting next to him for at least 10 minutes. Except for a sigh of exasperation due to the slowness of the subway, he sat inconspicuously and I didn't pay attention to him. But the moment he got up and offered his seat, he came into focus. And it wasn't just me that noticed. Across the way, another guy saw. And like that Liberty Mutual commercial about paying it forward, he also moved to let someone else have a seat.
I also noticed that this guy wasn't bad looking either. Wow, a decent-looking guy who's considerate of strangers? If I were still single, I would have worn the look of having been charmed.
It didn't have to be an average woman that he offered his seat, but on the New York City subway, it doesn't happen often. A pregnant woman, an old person, or an injured person, it's expected. (Though most people sitting on the subway are too selfishly indrawn to notice even those people.) Maybe the guy saw how tired she looked, or maybe he's just a real gentleman with a mama who taught him well.
Whatever the motivation, the action proves that one small alpha decision can impact the surrounding world.
November 13, 2010
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There's plenty of women who are gorgeous that aren't in fashion magazines and plenty of women in fashion magazines who aren't so special. Why perpetuate this myth? It only makes it harder on us ladies. Even aspiring actors and models. We may be pretty but we know we are not Giselle or Halle. There's many gorgeous women of all different types. Even someone lucky enough to book a spread in Elle aka yours truly. This could be the last thing I do or people may look at it and say ehh she's nothing special. Either way. Maybe he though she was drop dead gorgeous or maybe he was just being nice or maybe beauty is in Rushdie of the beholder or maybe it's not all about looks
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