I couldn't believe he did this!

A delightful surprise from a friend when I needed it most

It’s the smallest moments that matter most. And one act of kindness can shift our energy, outlook, and lens through which we view the world. Truthfully, I’m a giver and a reformed pleaser. I don’t receive with ease. Yet, earlier this week, I found myself with four different coffees from four different cafes on my desk:

What’s the story here?! Well, it’s a powerful reminder of the power of friendships, and those who know how to make you smile when you need it most. This is what happened…

I’m in New York City this week for a funeral and my niece’s bat mitzvah. I decided to stay here to meet with my publisher, some authors I know, and lock myself in a room to work on my second book.

To maximize my writing time, I decided to schedule an Uber Eats coffee delivery for first thing in the morning. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I spent nearly $20 on this attempt at a java delivery.

When I saw the driver had arrived, I strode downstairs only to find the sweetest man, who was hopping off his bicycle while apologizing repeatedly. As he handed me the coffee, I said, “What’s wrong?” He barely made eye contact and replied, “I’m so sorry ma’am but the restaurant didn’t wrap the coffee.”

I’m thinking why is that even necessary?

Well, I understood the reason as soon as I took off the white plastic cap. Droplets of dark roast coffee splattered across the floor. When I peeked inside, what was supposed to be 20 ounces, much to my dismay, was only about four. Clearly this wouldn’t be enough to fuel my writing for the next few hours.

One of the doormen said, “Ma’am you should report that to Uber—that’s ridiculous.” (And can we also discuss that I’d been called “ma’m twice in five minutes? I actually wrote a blog about this when I first launched Every Soul Has a Story.)

“I don’t want to get this kind man in trouble,” I responded, wiping the mess with paper napkins. The doorman explained that it is not the driver’s fault and showed me how to reach out to Uber Eats. Yesterday, I gratefully received a refund.

But it wasn’t about the money. It was about the experience. Isn’t that always the case?

That evening, I had dinner with my friend Jonathan. I told him the story of my failed attempt at getting coffee and holing myself up to get writing done. We celebrated his birthday with dessert, shared stories, and had an amazing conversation.

The next morning, I received a surprise. Jonathan showed up to where I was staying with four cups of coffee from four different shops! He wasn’t sure which I would prefer and wanted to make sure I had an abundance of choices.

Gratitude fueled me as much as the caffeine. With all that’s going on in the world, just remember there are always good people out there. You just have to find them. Sometimes they find you. And keep your heart and mind open to the glimmers. I promise they still exist!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me an email or share in the comments: What’s your most memorable, unexpected moment?

With love and gratitude,
Dara