A few months ago, I was at a beauty salon getting my hair streaked, and quite looking forward to the change of color.  I really like my hairstylist and appreciate that she is there to make my world a happier place.  Not only does she do good hair, she is also very congenial. Therefore, I was surprised and saddened to learn from her that she would be moving back East.  Although she hoped to come back in a few months, she could not promise that would happen.

I have always expressed that everyone’s career is important, but when your hairstylist is moving away, one realizes just how important.  I have had my share of bad cuts, styles and colorings in search of a good hair stylist, and was not looking forward to going through those ugly times again. I was sad about her leaving (in fact, much more so than I expressed to her at the time).

I have learned many valuable lessons in doing random acts of giving.  One is to give to someone when you are feeling sad, depressed, or even when you are feeling angry. Giving is definitely mood-altering.  For me, giving is far more gratifying than receiving — however, it is important to be open to both attributes. Sitting in the salon and feeling upset about the news of my hairstylist’s looming departure, I decided that I would do a random act of giving.  There was an elderly lady in the next chair waiting for a style. We had a quick little chat of niceties and we wished each other a good day.

My hair turned out fabulous. It was time to pay my stylist and say our goodbyes, but before doing this, I needed her to do something for me.  I asked her if she would discreetly find out what the elderly lady was having done with her hair.  I wanted to pay for it, but I did not want the lady to know this until I had left. There is little that is more uplifting than to know you have received a pleasant surprise for a complete stranger.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I too had a pleasant surprise: my hair stylist moved back to the city.  Now she knows how much I really missed her.  It was a long few months for me having my hair done only once by another stylist.  Good thing my stylist moved back when she did — because my hair was long overdue for a color and style.  During my recent hair appointment, my stylist told me that the elderly lady that I surprised by paying for her hair appointment was extremely happy.  It is random acts of giving to strangers that I believe make a positive and lasting impression in their lives. We expect our family and friends to be give to us, but when a stranger does a random act of giving for another stranger, it is then that giving really becomes a special and blessed event for both the giver and the receiver.