MISSION: Sleeper Agent Awakes

Happy New Year, Agents!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I’m still beaming from my recent engagement, which occurred on Christmas Eve! Yay for love!

I have a number of missions sitting in my inbox, and I thought this one was particularly appropriate to post at the beginning of the year. Affiliated Agent KH mentions that she hadn’t done a mission in two years but felt compelled after the recent tragic events in Connecticut to get back into the field and spread kindness. The moral of the story? It’s always a good time to do something good, even if it’s been years since the last time you did it.

Will 2013 be that time for you? I hope so.

DATE:
Friday, 14 December 2012

OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent KH

LOCATION:
toy aisle, Target
Pittsburgh, PA

TIME:
late afternoon

It’s been an absurdly long time (two years!) since I did an official mission. I’ve been something of a kindness sleeper agent. Doing nice things, of course, doesn’t require documentation or mysterious gestures. Sure, it’s giving a stranded motorist $20, and it’s also saying please and thank you, it’s letting that person go ahead of you, and a simple smile.

However, when I saw your tweet on Wednesday about the Les Mis screening tickets, I thought, “ah, yes, that’s the sign! I’m sooo overdue for a mission!” The problem, of course, was that I was at work and knew I wouldn’t be able to do a mission until after 4:30. I did consider the above paragraph, the little things — letting the coworker go first with the microwave, complimenting their outfit, or grabbing them a coffee — of course those everyday kindnesses are important! But I was feeling like doing something out of the ordinary. Knowing in advance that I’d be tied up for tickets (it’s not like I’m not going to buy tickets and see it anyway!) I knew it was mission-time. I was still not quite over the grump from election season and all the vitriol everyone was spewing in every direction — the world needed more happiness!

I got a $5 Target gift card after work and started a cheerful little note, suggesting the finder apply it to his or her purchase – maybe a present? – or pick up something unexpected – did you know Target gift cards work at the Starbucks in there?

I didn’t have time to get back to Target for 48 hours for the gift card drop … and then I heard the news today.

A lot has been said and MUCH more will be said about the tragedy in Connecticut today. I just want to give lots of people hugs. Everybody copes with tragedy in their own ways. I’ve seen all kinds of styles on social media (really, ALL kinds of styles, which, again, necessitates more kindness in the world.) As for myself, today, I wanted to advocate compassion.

So suddenly my mission of kindness took in a bit of a different meaning. Today was the day to do it and my outlet for improving and feeling better about humanity. I hadn’t really considered where I’d leave the gift card yet. I thought, “oh, the toy aisle, I love toys, who doesn’t!” … and then I thought of kids and nearly burst into tears and was almost too sad to do that… but no, I concluded that was actually the perfect thing to do.

I wasn’t quite feeling my cheerful rambly note anymore. I didn’t know what to say about the mission at that point (clearly, I was waiting to put them in this email! lol) — so I just printed a SAL calling card and put the critical information on the envelope: random act of kindness, because it’s so nice to be nice!

So away into Target I went, looked around a bit, and found a home for the $5 gift card: by the dinosaur Lego sets, because, really, both dinosaurs and Legos are super awesome. I snapped a blurry picture and snuck away just as somebody was entering the aisle.

The thing is, I LIKE being a happy person. I like to make other people smile when I can. I often overuse smiley faces and exclamation points and “lol.” It’s hard to do that this evening (though I suppose I’ll try when applicable; I’ve done all three at least once in this email.) This was something of a bittersweet mission. I saw parents walking in Target holding their kids’ hands or moms carrying little ones, possibly a little tighter right now. I hope whoever finds that gift card gets a smile today. Maybe that gift card will go toward a wanted present for a child, and that child will get to smile, too. And maybe they’ll both think, “hey, doing nice things for other people is great! Let’s join in this mission of kindness!” And maybe the goodwill will spread. So that’s the mission I did to brighten somebody’s day — and my own — when it was rather dark.  *hug!*