Author Guest Post
#Kindness
By: Michele Lynn Seigfried
Why is #kindness trending on Twitter? Why should it be a “trend” to be kind? When was the last time you were kind? Is it easier to remember the last time you weren’t kind?
The recent explosion of #kindness on twitter got me thinking. I try to be kind to others. Am I always? Absolutely not! Was I kind to my husband the day I was vacuuming, and I bent down to pick up my daughter’s toys, only to turn around to the vacuum being put away? It’d be nice to think I smiled and said, “Oh honey, I wasn’t finished yet with that vacuum.” But the reality of this sleep-deprived mom, who believes her husband does things just to make more work for her is one that is not so kind. “Why the **** did you put the vacuum away in the middle of me trying to vacuum?” Was probably a more accurate account of what I said at that moment.
Many, many years ago, one of my first jobs was a waitress at a pizza place. Customers, as I would learn, were not always kind to me. Some left a measly 2% tip. Some left no tip at all. A bunch of crazed pizza makers screamed at me for writing too small on the order pad or not wiping the tables in the direction they wanted me to. That job lasted two days. Maybe if people were kinder, it would have lasted longer. Maybe if people were kinder, I wouldn’t have learned to appreciate the wait staff at restaurants. Maybe I wouldn’t be a good tipper. Maybe their lack of kindness taught me something.
I was in a long line at the post office when a senior citizen arrived. The man was wearing an Army baseball cap. He asked the clerk behind the desk where to get stamps. She yelled at him to get in the back of the line. He only had one letter to mail, so I reached in my purse and handed him a stamp. Then I thanked him for serving our country. He wanted to pay me, but I refused. Wasn’t that the least I could do for this veteran who just wanted to mail a letter? Why couldn’t the clerk have been kinder? I don’t mean that she should have told him to skip the line, but the tone in her voice, the frustration she exuded…maybe it was her attitude that made me be nicer. If he had gotten into the line and I saw he only had one letter to send, and no one said anything, would I have even thought to hand him a stamp? Maybe the unkind postal worker taught me something.
On a trip to Atlantic City, when I was pregnant with my daughter, my husband and I had breakfast inside a casino. When the bill arrived, the waiter told us that someone else had paid for us. We didn’t know the person and never saw him. I wondered why he paid for us. Was it because I was pregnant? I couldn’t understand how a complete stranger could be so generous, so kind. On a recent trip to Atlantic City, an elderly homeless man approached us on the boardwalk as we ate a pizza dinner. He asked for some change to buy food. We didn’t have change, but we bought the pizza for him on our credit card. I have to admit, there are times I’ve ignored homeless people and wasn’t so kind. But this time was different. There wasn’t a second thought in my head about buying the man dinner. Maybe the kind stranger at the casino who bought me a meal taught me something.
When I was a little girl, my father got “bumped” from his position in a union and was out of work for quite some time before there was another opening. He had trouble supporting the family. Different relatives took turns feeding us. I remember going to my Uncle’s Hoagie Shop to get lunch meats for our school lunches. I remember eating pasta dinners at one of my cousins’ houses. This year I donated gift cards to a family in need so that their children could have a nice holiday season. Maybe my relatives taught me something long ago about being kind to someone else who was in the same situation I was in so many years ago.
Maybe all the animal cruelty and puppy mills that exist are what prompted me to rescue a dog last year instead of going to a breeder. Maybe the world’s lack of kindness toward animals taught me something.
So, what was it that I learned? That many people don’t think to be kind in every situation, all the time. That maybe we need the unkindness in the world to teach us how to be kind. Maybe we also need the kindness of others to teach us how to appreciate those who are kind to us. Maybe a little #kindness is what the world needs to remind all of us to be kinder. Maybe next time my husband puts away the vacuum in the middle of my vacuuming, I’ll remember to say “Thanks for trying to help out.” Maybe my own unkindness taught me something.
About The Author
Michele was born and raised in New Jersey. In her mystery novels, she draws from her personal expertise in the area of municipal government, in which she has served for over 17 years in two different municipalities.
She holds a B.A. in communication from the College of New Jersey with a minor in art. She obtained the Master Municipal Clerk certification from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in 2010. She also holds the Registered Municipal Clerk certification and Certified Municipal Registrar Certifications from the State of New Jersey.
In combining her love of writing with art, Michele began writing and illustrating children’s picture books in 2013. She has won several awards for her novels.
Author Website
Email: MicheleSeigfried@gmail.com
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Book Review
Major Crimes by Michele Lynn Seigfried
Book 4: Jersey Shore Mystery Series
Publisher: Horseshoe Bay Publishing
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Format: Paperback - 220 pages
Kindle - 1696 KB
ISBN: 978-1518818929
ASIN: B017GG55FU
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy The Book:
Buy The Series: Jersey Shore Mystery Series
Book 1: Red Tape
Book 2: Tax Cut
Book 3: Community Affairs
Book 4: Major Crimes
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
Book Excerpt:
Read Excerpt from Chapter 1
https://michelelynnseigfried.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/major-crimes-chapter-1.pdf
My Book Review:
Cozy mystery fans, Chelsey Alton is back with her latest murder mystery investigation!
In Major Crimes, the fourth book in the Jersey Shore Mystery Series, author Michele Lynn Seigfried once again transports the reader back to the Jersey Shore to follow amateur sleuth turned novice private investigator Chelsey Alton on her latest murder mystery investigative adventure. Set in the small shore town of Coral Beach, Chelsey's latest case involves hunky police detective Bryce Kelly, who is accused of murdering retiring police chief Archie Wallace. Chelsey vows to prove Bryce's innocence at all costs, even if it puts her life in danger!
The Jersey Shore Mystery Series is a wonderful whodunit series to read. Each book in the series has enough witty humor, mystery, suspense, and romance that easily draws the reader into Chelsey's latest madcap investigation adventure.
In Major Crimes, sassy Chelsey Alton uses quirky sleuthing methods to prove that Bryce didn't murder the police chief, even with danger lurking around the corner. And when you add into the mix the undeniable chemistry and romance that develops between Chelsey and Bryce, you have an action packed and entertaining cozy mystery that is just plain fun to read. So come join Chelsey and friends down the shore for another murder investigation adventure!
Major Crimes is a thoroughly entertaining cozy mystery story that will bring out the reader's inner amateur sleuth!
RATING: 4 STARS
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Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
February 2 – Community Bookstop – Interview
February 3 – Babs Book Bistro –Guest Post
February 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – Spotlight
February 5 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post
February 6 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – Guest Post
February 7 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – Spotlight
February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Spotlight
February 9 – Readsalot – Review
February 10 – fuonlyknew – Review
February 11 – Intoxicated by Books – Review
February 12 - Queen of All She Reads - Spotlight
February 13 – A Blue Million Books – Interview
February 14 – Laura’s Interests – Review
