The other day I was at Whole Foods, shopping for groceries and spending a small fortune. I was walking through the produce department when I stumbled upon an adorable family: mom, dad, baby in a separate cart in a baby carrier and a child around three or four.

The little girl was running around and determined to assist her parents. She was absolutely cute as a button, full of spunk and bald.

Bald and beautiful.

She was clearly going through some kind of treatment and I kept watching her. Something pulled me to them and I couldn’t resist going up to the little girl and talking to her. She had on a shirt with a big sparkly butterfly.

“You’re beautiful,” I said, “And I want you to know, I once had your same hairstyle. And now look at my hair.”

“See,” her mom said, “It will come back. We just have to be patient.”

We said our goodbyes and I continued with my grocery shopping. I was on another aisle, when all of the sudden, the little girl ran up to me and gave me a big hug. It caught me off guard but I hugged her back. I felt her little body and her bald head.

We talked for a few more minutes and said our goodbyes.

I didn’t see her again but I can’t stop thinking about her.

She made my day. Life had dealt her an unfair hand.

It was just a normal shopping trip, but instead of just getting groceries to feed my family, my interaction with this child fed my soul. And while I don’t know anything about her, her illness, or her prognosis, I couldn’t help but say a little prayer. I can’t imagine how hard it is for her parents: to juggle life, a baby, and a sick child. But they were doing it, and doing it well. They were warm, pleasant, and approachable.

It’s easy for us to get frustrated by the inconveniences of daily living, but remember this:

Take the time to appreciate you health, the health of your family, and all the goodness that surrounds you. If that beautiful family can walk around with a smile on each of their faces, being nice and friendly to people they encounter, so can you. I don’t know them, but I deeply admire them.

You never know, you might make someone’s day.

Find meaning every day,

Dara