The woman you can just barely see in this photo was flying for the first time, and she was terrified. The many sitting next to her held her hand and held her through.

Beyond the other things that could be said about this image, consider that all of us need help coming into this world, and nearly all of us need help going out. This man, by helping a stranger in need, justified the help he’d need on his way out: He showed that he is deserving of it.

* * * * *

Before returning to the mundane, consider whether you’ve earned kindnesses… whether you’ve justified them (even earned them) in advance. If you have, you’ll build something important in yourself. And whether or not you get great kindness on your way out, you’ll know that you deserved it.