Making the unusual, usual

Part of the Decency Project is to remind us all that we can be "decent" in a multitude of ways in every day moments. Sometimes it may take a second thought to realize the opportunity for decency to happen. I am still shocked and amazed when I hear stories of people taking time out of their lives to help others. But why I am so shocked and amazed? Shouldn't this be something that I recognize as instinctual compassion and should come naturally to me?

A couple years ago, my friend and I attended a street festival with live music. We spotted our favorite Korean taco food truck and they were about to close up for the night. My friend and I luckily persuaded them to let us make the last order. As we anxiously awaited our delicious food, a homeless man approached us and asked for food. I'll admit that my immediate response was "No, sorry".  But my friend's immediate response was to pay for our food and pass his food directly to this homeless man, patted him on the back and said "have a good night." I didn't know how to react. I was struck by guilt for not wanting to give my food to this person and amazement at how quickly my friend responded.  And when I asked my friend what made him decide to give his food to this man, my friend said "I can go home and buy more food. That man may not be able to." And to top it off, when I offered my friend my food, he refused. This is just one story of a friend touching my heart with their compassion and decency.

In November 2012 in New York City, an NYPD cop bought a pair of socks and shoes to give to a homeless man because he was barefoot on a very cold night.

Many people in NYC were touched by this act of compassion and hopefully, it spurred others to participate in more acts of decency. These two acts are just two examples of decency which should be usual to us but unfortunately, are unusual to us.

What are some acts of decency you have participated in? Share with us your ideas on how to spread decency to others. Let's make decency something that is commonplace and an instinctual reaction.