kindness, whether undeserved or not

i got a call and then text and email messages today. unexpectedly.

they warmed my cold, cold heart mainly caused by the weather and the departure of a dear one back to where he is working.

one was from a glamourous artiste whom i have interviewed centuries ago in my past incarnation as a lifestyle writer. he called just to check on me, you know, if i have found a job already and if so, he hoped it's the one i have been wishing for. when i told him not yet, he immediately gave me the phone number of his editor friend, whom, he said could help me out.

i was touched. like totally.

"i thought about you this morning," he said on the other line, his cheerful voice pervading my a bit dreary room. "i just want to know how you are doing."

a few seconds later, he sent me the number of his editor friend. then he texted again: "please call him now na. just mention my name."

i was smiling as i texted him back: "will do. asap."

then he replied: "stop going out every night. take care of your health. sleep well."

"will do." i replied.

he sent me the text message at eight in the morning when i was still asleep. i saw it at around two in the afternoon, when i woke up. i texted him back to apologise for the delayed reply. he called me up right away.

*******

i never expected that someone whom i have met for only a few times (the first one just to thank me for the article that i have written about him) would really make an effort to reach out. last month, when he learned that i was in town, he arranged a lunch for us. ahora mismo! no buts, no ifs.

*******

while having coffee late this afternoon, another friend texted me. i haven't seen her for quite a long time. i thought she was mad at me or something, so i kept my distance.

but she surprised me with her very kind gesture. she also wanted to know how was my job hunting.

her text message was so out of the blue, i felt i don't deserve her at all.

*******

when i reached home after having dinner with another friend, i got an email from a former colleague in hong kong.  she was also sending her regards, then asked if i receive a message from her friend who was looking for a writer. she has recommended me to her.

all in all, this is proving to be such a terrific week.

with the lousy december gone (and the grumpy people deserted), the new year indeed brings new hope.

here is hoping for more good news as the chinese new year approaches.

*******

whether i deserve it or not, i appreciate their kindness. i know it's coming from people who really care, who are not doing it just because they have to, or they feel obliged to. they do it without being condescending or patronising. without feeling sorry for another person. thank god.

it's true. sometimes, kindness comes from the most unexpected people, while those whom you thought would totally be there for you more often than not turned out to be such a disappointment because they tend to judge you (it's sometimes true that familiarity breeds contempt) and impose their i-know-it-all
theories on you, forgetting to reflect on their own sad, humdrum lives as well. oh well.

so thank you universe. thank you angels, lovely friends and kind strangers. for this, i am forever grateful.

note: photo above was taken from the internet. no copyright infringement intended. please inform me if you want it taken off. thank you.