Mahendra Shah, an artist and cartoonist based in Pittsburgh, recounts his recent experiences that inspired creative expressions.
Random Act of Kindness 1: Park Bench
Our local newspaper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, publishes the ‘Random Act of Kindness’ section every Thursday, featuring readers’ experiences of how people help each other with no personal gain. This story is worth publishing too!
Walking has been a part of our daily routine for the last 25 years on a trail near our house, and we’ve made many friends over time. However, during my pre- and post-knee replacement period, my walking pace has slowed, and I need to take breaks on a bench along the way. Unfortunately, during a heavy storm, that bench fell apart. The horizontal boards, which were nailed to the posts, got separated. My usual resting place was gone! I had no choice but to sit on the surviving vertical post, which was uncomfortable and risky.
Other walkers noticed my uncomfortable position. Word got around and, to my surprise, one couple I had befriended on the trail, gave a surprise… fixing the bench for me. They even left a handwritten note and a painted rock on it. What a Random Act of kindness!
Random Act of Kindness 2: Rock Art
“A walking trail friend inspired me to paint more rocks to add to my RockArt Collection.”
After moving into a new neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA, 25 years ago we started walking on a nearby trail on the recommendation of an acquaintance. One day I ran into a tall, older man in his 70s named Bill, who was a regular runner, and we became friends. While walking, I would watch rocks slide on both sides of the trail during a rainstorm, and I would pick up flat, slate-type rocks of various sizes to satisfy my painting hobby.
Once, Bill saw a random rock in my hand and asked, out of curiosity, what I was going to do with it. “I will take it home, wash it, prime it, and paint on it,” I explained to him.
Another day, I saw Bill carrying a 20-pound rock in his hand. “Bill, are you going to start painting rocks too?” I asked him. “No, I found a nice piece of flat rock and wondered if you could use it to paint. I picked it for you, and I’ll bring it to your car at the parking lot since it’s heavy. I’ll carry it a quarter mile every day, and in a few days, it will be in your trunk,” he replied.
I couldn’t believe it — what a nice gesture! I couldn’t even carry the rock by myself! Bill inspired me to paint more rocks to add to my RockArt Collection. I have more than 20 of them by now! I even use a few small rocks I painted for scavenger hunts at the trail; people love to collect my RockArt!
Random Act of Kindness 3: Wood Log
“My wife observed a heart shape etched in the log given to us by a woodcutter, so I painted a heart in its design.”
During my daily walk with Aruna, my wife, I noticed some workers cutting tall trees near the wooded path. Some flat logs, about two feet in diameter, were lying around. Upon seeing the logs, I wanted to lay my hands on one and considered their artistic possibilities.
My wife too loved the idea, so I asked a woodcutter to give me one log for painting purpose. Not only did he agree, but he also offered to sand it flat for me as well as gave instructions about materials to apply on it before and after the painting was finished.
Moreover, since the log was heavy and our car was parked far away, he even offered to carry it for us. We decided to carry the log ourselves and let him continue his work, but we were very grateful for his kindness. I got down to work on it the very next day. While watching me paint, my wife observed a heart shape etched in the log, so I painted a heart in its design!
All visuals courtesy Mahendra Shah
