DECEMBER 15, 2025How far does generosity travel?
Hi there, how was your weekend?
This past Saturday my husband and I flew with our 3-month old daughter to spend an early holiday with my family.
Like so many other travelers, we were a mix of excited, nervous, and doing our best. I looked calm enough on the outside, but I wasn't exactly chill on the inside. How would she do with the altitude changes? Would I be able to breastfeed comfortably? Would everyone around us be counting the minutes until landing?
It wasn’t a full flight, so at the gate, we gently asked the gate agent if there was any chance we could sit in a row with an open middle seat. Travel accommodations aren’t always available (or made possible) and we knew it was a privilege to even ask the question. The gate agent took a moment to check, smiled, and said he could help. We were fortunate, and beyond grateful.
What a difference his generosity made. It eased a day that can be overwhelming for many travelers, especially those who don’t always receive support in public spaces.
Here’s what’s stayed with me: that gate agent will never know the full impact of his kindness. He won’t know the relief I felt watching her sleep somewhere over Idaho. Or how that flight shifted my confidence about traveling with her.
That’s what’s so special about kindness. We almost never get to see how far it travels.
We do it because making space for people always matters, even when we never know how much. Just think how far your generosity travels in ways you'll never know.
Alright, let's get to it...hope you have a great week.
Mallory
P.S. A resource to round out the year: 25 essential skills to show people how they matter, from organizational development researcher Zach Mercurio, author of The Power of Mattering
