I spent a good part of the morning delivering flowers to people, and I love doing that. It is so important; I have learned to thank and appreciate the people I meet who go out of their way to be good to others.

People love getting flowers. It’s a beautiful way of saying thank you.

There is so much selfish anger and grievance in the country, and to me, a partial antidote – a vaccine, you might call it – to all the rage is to be sure to appreciate the people who care about other people rather than fight with them and diminish them.

Small acts of great kindness, one at a time.

Isn’t that about all most of us can do? I firmly believe that if we all do it, we will create a new kind of pandemic, a good one, the viral growth and spread of compassion, empathy, and courtesy. One flower at a time, one person at a time.

Laura is the manager of the Gym I go to, and the people who go there all call her the Gym Angel. She loves to help people, encourage them, and watch over them without invading their lives or intruding.

I was bringing some flowers from Heidi Cary at Country Power to the Mansion and decided to drop off some flowers to Laura on the way. We put them in a vase; I am happy to have found Heidi; she will see a lot of me. And Maria will get a lot of flowers.

I am surprised at how shocked Laura is when she receives this appreciation and how much it means to her. She watches over me and watches out for me, goading me along without being obnoxious or pushy about it.

Today, another member of the Gym brought her a bottle of wine. Still, another painted an egg in beautiful designs to hang on her Christmas tree. Some people just love to help people. They deserve flowers and wine and, at the very least, thank you’s.

I know I am not an easy student for a gym manager; I won’t forget her calling or e-mailing me every month to see how my food was doing when I had that trouble and wish me luck.

She gently nudged me into coming back, and she made sure I did the work and stayed focused. She also makes sure I don’t overdo things, which she senses I tend to do.

I’m falling into a nice and steady groove there.

She comes over if I’m going too slow; she comes over if I’m too fast. She seems to care.

Getting me into a gym three or four times a week is no small thing, and I appreciate her.

Seeing the look on her face when I handed her the flowers were well worth it. All we can do is show gratitude and enjoy one person at a time. Maybe we can bring some souls back from the dead.

Between Heidi and the flowers growing in my new raised garden beds, I’ll spread flowers all over the place to the lovely people in my life.