Surprising Kindness

I'm not sure many people would describe me as kind, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize it when I see it. Recently I've seen two examples that have really stuck with me. 

The first example I've found on reality TV of all places; specifically, the show Master Chef Junior. I originally started watching because I was floored by seeing kids that are eight or nine years old preparing dishes I'd have a hard time making if I had an entire afternoon and access to the recipes on Epicurious, much less in the allotted hour using only the knowledge in my head. But it's the kindness on display that keeps me watching. It's your basic elimination show, but the kids are all generous and kind to each other. Perhaps more surprisingly, the chefs hosting and judging the program are all incredibly kind to the kids. When things go awry, they're there helping the kids get a grip on the situation, calming them down and getting them back on track to solutions. Even when they're sending someone home, they recognize what the person has already accomplished and make sure they understand the clear distinction between losing and loser. For a cheap reality show, it's a pretty great example of how much can be accomplished with kindness.

And speaking of pretty great, I read today about a Superbowl wager that qualifies. Apparently, Chris Pratt, the actor who played Star Lord, is from Seattle while Chris Evans, the actor who plays Captain America, is from Boston. So the two have agreed that if the Seahawks win, Captain America will make a visit to Seattle Children's Hospital,while if the Patriots win, Star Lord will visit Boston Children's. It's almost enough to make you wish it were possible for both teams to lose. 

And props to the two actors for turning something stupid like a Superbowl bet into something pretty terrific.