Should AOKs be Effortless Effort?

These last few weeks we have been really focused on our acts of kindness (AOK).  These are things we do all the time, things that take no effort, right? At first I found it hard to document things that I thought I did all the time but by documenting them, I actually became more aware of the actions that I was doing and tried to even improve on them.  Instead of opening a door for a colleague, I open the door, make sure I make eye contact, smile and give a greeting.  I am opening the door FOR someone, I am no longer just opening a door.


These last few weeks, I have initiated conversations with people at my work that I do not really know.  I even embarrassed myself because there was a lady that has sat on my side of the building for years and I didn't know her name.  Actually, I thought she was new and it was when we started talking that I realized my mistake.  Even though I was embarrassed, I owned up to that and said I was really sorry and we both laughed, and not the awkward laugh that could have easily occurred in this situation.  We both just ran in our own little circles and those circles never really intercepted.  Without the AOK activity, our circles may never have touched, but now they have and who knows where that will lead.  The activity of AOKs made me realize that I need to pay more attention to things around me, those types of details do not come easy to me so I have to work really hard on them.  AOKs make you work even harder.


The other thing that I have noticed with AOKs is the "pay it forward" action.  Many times I have opened a door for someone, and then when we get to the next door, they hold it for me.  Looking them in the eyes, smiling, and giving a heart felt "Thank you" results in them smiling back at you more times than not.  I think the biggest reward at work was when a colleague who I just recently began to interact with, gave me a kindness card and said "I know you will appreciate this".  I was very fortunate that he was comfortable he could give me something like this and that took that he was willing to take that risk.


I always wanted to have AOKs as effortless effort, but now I think if it becomes effortless effort they may lose my full awareness and intent that they deserve.  AOKs deserve the effort.


See you at the kwoon!