I spent Thanksgiving rummaging inside a trash dumpster

I spent Thanksgiving rummaging inside a trash dumpster.

Earlier that day, I realized my wallet was missing.

So I retraced my steps.

I had the wallet the night before at the grocery store.

I came straight home after.

Now it’s missing.

I checked my pants.

I searched throughout the house.

I looked in the car.

Nothing.

Maybe I tossed it out with the empty grocery bags, I thought.

Unfortunately, I threw out the garbage in my building’s dumpster hours earlier.

So I went back to the dumpster.

There was a problem.

I couldn’t find my trash bag.

I removed what was on top, but mine wasn’t visible.

I couldn’t reach further, so I had to climb in.

Gross!

After an hour, I finally found my trash bag.

Hallelujah!

But when I opened the bag, there was no wallet.

All of that for nothing!

I had one final idea.

Maybe I lost it at the grocery store.

However, it was Thanksgiving.

The store was closed.

So the following day, I begrudgingly went back to the store.

It was a long shot.

I went to customer service and waited.

After 15 minutes, the clerk emerged with my wallet!

To my surprise, everything was intact.

I asked who had turned it in.

The clerk didn’t know.

A strong sense of gratitude came over me (very fitting for Thanksgiving).

Ever since, I’ve felt compelled to pay it forward.

A big tip to a hardworking bartender.

A call to an old friend.

A trip to goodwill.

Someone’s act of kindness became contagious.

Science backs this up.

Studies find that we’re inspired to be kind when we experience kindness.

One person’s generosity will typically spread to three others.

And those three, to three more.

And so on.

Thoughtful acts have a domino effect.

I hope my story inspires you too.

Be the reason someone smiles today.