‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.’  I first encountered these words in a little framed picture of a butterfly that had been left on the counter where I work.  Despite asking several people, no one could account for how this miniature piece of artwork had found its way to its new home where it has remained for several years.  Simple and profound words that, unbeknownst to me at the time, built a connection between Nita Streetman and I.  A reminder of the importance of kindness and soon I would learn, a reminder as well, at how we are all connected, unknowingly impacting each other.  

I first met Nita through family as we are ‘related’ through a series of marriages, encountering each other at various family get togethers for holidays and birthdays.  She is an Air Force Veteran and was married for 33 years but sadly has now been widowed for three years.  A prolific reader and collector of quotes, it was in the reading of many books that promoted  good values and in trying to better herself that she developed two guiding mantras for how she lived.  “One is having fun, doing whatever you have to do to have some fun throughout life.  The second is, make sure you are helping others; somehow make this world a little better for having lived this precious time on Earth,” she shares.  It is this attitude that shines through her on my brief encounters through the years.  

Nita is also generous in her words and very present when she speaks with you, exuding a kindness and peace that is rare to find.  Perhaps it was her older brother, George, from whom she learned this.  Unfortunately he died when he was only 47-years-old from cancer but Nita shares how he influenced her life.  She recounts, “He was a shining example of living life to the fullest, making every moment count with no wasted movements and loving others with a strong and intense passion.” 

A pivotal event that Nita recalls is when her father passed.  Exhausted and weary after the funeral, she had dinner by herself at a restaurant.  When she went to pay she saw a little framed picture with the kindness quote at the register and was told another couple had already paid for her dinner and left.  Deeply shocked and grateful she states, ‘This is the kind of thing that I have heard about, but it was never a reality for me.  Someone cared so much about me as a tired and sad looking woman dining alone that they paid for my dinner!’  As Nita pondered this experience a treasured quote from Bob Kerry, Vietnam War Veteran, came to mind, ‘Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, most underrated agent of human change.  Kindness that catches us by surprise brings out the best in our natures.’   True to the quote, this simple act of kindness inspired Nita to continue and expand the acts of kindness she had already put in motion in her life.  

When I asked Nita who her heroes were I was not surprised to learn two of them are Mother Teresa and the fictional character Mr. Spock from Star Trek.  Both seem to have no ego and are willing to forgo self interest for the greater good of the whole.  Nita, like these heroes, exemplifies being of service and not seeking recognition.  You see, it is her effort and her work that has placed the tiny prints, including the one I had found at work and the one one that was at the restaurant, throughout our community in public spaces over the last 15 years with no acknowledgement.  Lompoc, however, is a small community and if you listen, secrets are not easily kept.  Several years ago, I had learned it was Nita’s artistry and heart behind the little prints I had encountered around town but had been asked to keep the secret by my informant and I honored that request, remaining silent.    

Fortunately, Nita doesn’t feel the need to keep silent any longer and shared with me how these simple words reminding us to be kind, have made their way to dwell in so many public spaces.   “For some reason the words hit me hard and this quote continued to weigh heavily on my mind.  The desire to get the message out to people became overwhelming,” she shares.  She continued to to ask herself the how of it, knowing from experience that in asking and keeping her eyes and mind open, there would be answers.  The answer came while standing in line waiting to pay for  coffee when she realized here was a captive audience, looking around, glancing at things.  “Why not give them something worth looking at? I could place little 2”x3” framed prints with the quote on counter tops, using my artwork to help enhance the appearance,” she states.  And so began the story of tiny prints, which now number almost 3000 and have found their way not only throughout our community and California but also to other English speaking countries with the help of a friend.  Nita continues, “Sometimes I will walk into a store, a restaurant or doctor’s waiting room where I haven’t been in several years and I’ll spot one of the tiny prints, still spreading its important message to all who walk in.  It’s such an easy way to do some good.  They cost so little to make, they require no maintenance and they spread their important message of kindness for years.”   

May we all, like Nita, be kind and remember, it is easy to make a difference, to bring a smile to someone’s face, in our own way.  ~♥~