Sometimes (I might even say often) when you practice kindness it not only benefits the receiver of the kindness, but it also benefits the giver. I have a story that illustrates that point that is just perfect for Valentine’s Day.

One day in November I went shopping for artwork to decorate the walls of my newly redecorated living room, i.e. my new Zen Room. I was looking for art from local artists that I personally knew to create a feeling of connectedness. Because, after all, I think both artists and educators are awesome folks. I have had the great fortune of working and learning alongside so many wonderful folks of both types over the years that I wanted to honor that.

I went to a local artist collective called The Hot Shops where I have taken many wonderful classes and know several of the artists. I was able to purchase several pieces of art from artists that I knew. I had one artist studio left to visit that day, the studio of Kelli Sweet and Margie Ehlers. I have taken most of my art classes in that studio so I wanted to be sure to represent both of those artists’ works in my Zen Room collection. Outside their studios was a shelf with a collage containing a teal heart. I thought something like that would make a fabulous piece for my wall. I went inside to see if Kelli had any additional pieces like it. Truth be known, I really wanted a red heart in the piece. Lo and behold, I happened to spy a collage with a red heart sort of tucked behind some of her work on top of a cabinet. My eyes lit up. It was the perfect piece I wanted!

I didn’t spy a price, so I asked Kelli about it. “You want THIS one?,” she said. I was puzzled why she said it that way so she told me a story. She recalled she had made this piece in 2014, more than 10 years earlier. She had sold it to someone and then happened to be shopping in a local thrift store in the last year. She came across this piece and recalled that the piece looked much like something she had created years prior. She was both surprised (and likely a little disappointed) to discover it was the exact same piece she had sold years ago. (Side note – if you are an artist, it is not a happy surprise to find your work included at the offerings at your local thrift store. It happens, but it is not a great find for the artist themself. Just sayin.’)

The piece had a price of $5 so Kelli bought it back, thinking she could give it a new life but also because it still meant something to her. So that’s how it came to reside tucked away behind some other pieces at the top of a cabinet in her studio. Little did she know, however, it would become the perfect piece for my Zen Room.

I loved the story and offered Kelli a price and I was thrilled she accepted. So, not only did Kelli, in her kindness, provide me with a reasonably-priced piece, I returned the kindness by giving the piece a brand new life front and center on one of the walls in my Zen Room. I use the room all the time to hang out, create my own art, read, and plan my day. We took a photo to commemorate both of our happiness.

In short, sometimes a kindness can benefit two folks, both the giver and the receiver. I would like to propose that it happens often. While it may not always happen with a piece of art, there are numerous studies showing that an act of kindness gives a little boost both to the giver and the receiver. With that in mind, let’s all spread a little more love and kindness to all, both on this Valentine’s Day and every day of the year!