To the Guy in the Tan Corolla on Route 9 by Marist, Thank You!

Happy Monday! I know Mondays can typically be dreary and tiring - it's the beginning of the work week - but I am still on a high from something that happened to me last week. I want to pass this on, and hopefully offer you something uplifting this Monday.

Random Acts of Kindness on Route 9 In Front of Marist College

So, this story takes place Thursday evening last week. It was about 5 pm, so the sun was setting over all of us, adding some glare to our rush hour commute. I'm in my car heading south on Route 9, sitting at the light at the intersection in front of the main entrance to Marist College.

I wasn't in a bad mood, per se, but I was definitely drained. I had to get up at 4:30 am that morning to fill in to do the news, and I was wiped. I honestly didn't have any motivation for anything. It didn't help that traffic was backed up and that I was hitting every red light.

In front of me, waiting for the light, was a tan Toyota Corolla. At one point, I noticed the driver of the Corolla wave. It looked like he was trying to get my attention, so I waved back. At first, I was concerned that he was trying to warn me about something, whether on the road or something with my car. But that wasn't the case.

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The driver of the Corolla does a little dance - a tiny shimmy, have you - from the front seat of his car. I wasn't 100% sure what I saw, so I just watched him motionless. Still looking at his rearview mirror, he does the shimmy again. This time, I decided to mimic his shimmy.

Right after that, he performs another dance move, waving his arms around a little more. I repeat the same move. We go back and forth a few more times, each one of us adding new dance moves each time until we are full-on rocking out in our respective cars. I don't know about him, but I didn't have any music. I guess you can say I was dancing to my own rhythm.

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By the time we hit peak dancing, the light turned green, and we drove off. I tried to wave to the guy as we pulled off on an exit but I kept going south. I don't know if he saw me wave. What I do know is that random acts of spontaneity and kindness put a smile on my face for the rest of that evening.

Honestly, I haven't gotten that exchange out of my head. It's just added so much light to my life! It just goes to show you that random acts of kindness, a little dancing, and moving to the beat of your own drum can make the world a better place, one car ride at a time. I hope you pass it on. As Lee Ann Womack would say, "When you get the choice to sit it out or dance... I hope you dance."