puddle splashes + kindness from strangers

You know the Sex and the City intro, where Carrie Bradshaw is walking down the street in a tutu and a car drives through a puddle splashing water on her?

It’s so relatable and real. Out there in the open of the streets and sidewalks, you get splashed.  

Last month, I was in an uber driving through Southern England and as we were nearly to our destination, the driver, who was super friendly, cruised through a big puddle and absolutely soaked a lady on the sidewalk. 

I squirmed on the inside… how could he have missed seeing the lady walking? Couldn’t he have slowed down and spared her from such a huge splash? 

Yesterday, I was biking to the National Arboretum and as I was about to climb one last little hill, a car driving southbound, drove through a puddle and water started to fly in my direction. 

And amazingly… I’m not sure how… I didn’t get wet. Not one drop. 

And yet, a moment later, the car driving behind me, who had one heck of an engine throttle, pulled up beside me, slowed down and asked, “are you okay?” I smiled and shared that I hadn’t gotten wet, as I continued to climb up the hill. 

And then, just as I was about to reach the top of the hill, a fellow cyclist came up beside me and asked, “are you okay?” 

He was shocked to hear I hadn’t gotten wet, as from behind it looked otherwise and we wished each other well. 

One of the challenge points of biking is you are totally open to the elements. And that can be a vulnerable place to be.  Cars, puddles, bird poop. You name it! They can splash you or hit you or get in your way. 

But one of the beauties of biking is that you are totally open to the elements. And that can be a vulnerable place to be. People, fellow cyclists, puddles. Without the armor of a vehicle, people can recognize that vulnerability and sprinkle you with kindness. 

I was deeply touched by the motorist and the cyclists slowing down to ask me, “are you okay?” It was such a simple, unexpected kindness of witnessing a stranger to say— I care for you. I wish you to be well.

How might you ride into vulnerability this week and be surprised by a certain kind of kindness from life? Perhaps from yourself, from a loved one, from a stranger? 

Wheels up,

Ellen