I suspect a lot of folks might not immediately see this as an act of kindness. Whether or not you do, it illustrates a lovely sort of act of kindness that I really adore and in fact think is pretty powerful and that is the unexpected gesture.

The woman taking the order in the video obviously expected to have an ordinary night at work, taking and filling orders. However the person in the video did something completely unexpected: he was incredibly nice in a way that came completely out of left field. You can hear as the video progresses the change it is making in her demeanour. And just as a particularly horrible interaction can ruin your mood for hours afterwards, an interaction like this has a similarly lasting effect. And that effect quite possibly goes beyond just the one person – likely to the others in the restaurant. Friends and other customers of the order-taker may also be impacted by the good mood that the woman taking the order gained from this simple act. And don’t forget the man giving the order. He’s having as awesome a time giving the order as she is taking it.

So never underestimate the power of a small but unexpected kind gesture. Whether it be a compliment, a coffee purchased for a stranger, or a free hug given on a street corner, those little acts create lasting ripples.