Where Kindness Begins

Hina Pitroda reflects on caregiving, receiving support, and the shared human need for kindness, connection, and being held.

By Hina Pitroda

Published 2025-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

I held my mother’s arm and navigated the very crowded airport. I couldn’t help but think of how many times she must have done this for me from the moment I was born. What I got to notice this time was all the looks from strangers. These “looks” were more smiles, and kind recognitions that I must be the daughter, helping my elder mother. Of course, they looked and smiled kindly, and I looked and returned the gentle knowing smiles. It connected me to all these strangers. It softened me.And smiles exchanged may not sound like much. After all, in the midwest where I live currently, people tend to smile at each other often. However, the smiles exchanged while at the airport were powerful. Withou…