I'm reminded of those little kindnesses between strangers, now and again, which reinforce the true natures of our humanity. And I'm glad, because the world sometimes seems quite hard and daunting. In the vernacular of the universal lounge singer, I'm going to bring it down a little now.

This week, the 300 millionth American was born, establishing a record high milestone. Gee, that is an awful lot of people on 3,537,441 square miles. To cite an old cliche--the world is getting smaller and there are more and more of us in close proximity every day. Instead of cursing the forced interaction with strangers at every turn, perhaps now is a good time to employ the civility of the manners our parents spent so much time trying to instill in us.

No, this is not a new and benevolent Chicken&Waffles you see before you. I'll still blurt out the odd "Eff You" to the thoughtless, deserving jerk and will utilize a mean sucker punch if pressed into need (read: I am a victim of a mugging). But on days like today, I'm reminded that despite the big world we're in, people are, by nature, kind and compassionate. It's not clearly evident. You've got to focus and remove the blinders that we wear everyday to edit the force of humanity.

Today, I observed the following shining examples of considerate behavior:

People gave others in need a seat on the subway. I heard a pleasantries exchanged. Doors were held open for others. Someone held the elevator without being asked. Someone took the arm of a blind man on the street to help him navigate the crosswalk. A man waiting to get in a cab graciously extended his hand to assist the older women getting out the cab. Three people reached out to help up a woman who tripped on a curb. Two strangers said good morning to me today on my way to work, salutations I emphatically returned with a smile. Why not? The world looks mighty welcoming from this view.

Obviously, people really were reading "Goofus & Gallant" in "Highlights" magazine at the dentist's office.

To end, a quote from that old sage Sly Stone seems appropriate (and if you're singing it, don't forget to hold the final "I" in the last line for a few bars):

I am no better and neither are you
We are the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me you know me and then
You can't figure out the bag l'm in
I am everyday people, yeah yeah

Okay, enough love for tonight.