I reached into my pocket in a hurry to see what she had given me. I took it out and froze. My blood ran cold. She had given me a large,heavy stone. This woman had the audacity to repay my kindness with anger and bitterness. But instead of accepting her lesson, I chose the opposite path. I decided to be kind and to teach my child kindness because I know the world needs more of it—even if some people don’t deserve it.

I was a kid, and a gentleman at the next table in a restaurant could speak six languages or so. He gave examples of a few. I was so impressed and, since then, wanted to learn languages. I now speak six fluently, plus a couple more at a basic level, so it had a real positive impactnd I never saw her again.