Courtesy On

I recently stopped by my dry cleaner to drop off some clothes and noticed a simple sign on the door. It read:

“IF YOU ARE
UNEMPLOYED AND
NEED AN OUTFIT
CLEANED FOR AN
INTERVIEW, WE
WILL CLEAN IT FOR FREE!”

When times are tough, we will help you look your best.
Sincerely, Kevin and the Courtesy Cleaners team

The name of the business is Courtesy Cleaners! That is so on brand.
In a world that often feels rushed, transactional, and loud, this quiet act of kindness stopped me in my tracks. There was no fanfare, or viral campaign. It was just a business choosing to see people who may be going through a tough chapter, and offering dignity, support, and hope in a very practical way.

Think about what that means. Someone who is unemployed may already be carrying fear, stress, or self-doubt. Walking into an interview is hard enough, and Courtesy Cleaners is removing one small but meaningful burden and replacing it with care.

Moments like this remind me that there are good and decent people and businesses doing good and decent things every single day. We just don’t always hear about them because these simple acts of kindness don’t always make headlines. They don’t trend, but they exist, and they absolutely matter.

Maybe the real issue isn’t the absence of kindness. Maybe it’s that we’re not always looking for it and not always being told about it. I can only speak for myself here, but when I keep my eyes, ears, and heart postured in the right direction, I start to notice these gestures a lot more. And perhaps, once we notice them, we’ll all be more likely to repeat them, because courtesy is contagious.

To keep the momentum going, here are three simple takeaways I took away as I dropped off my dry cleaning and picked up some contagious courtesy.

1. Kindness doesn’t have to be complicated: Small, thoughtful actions, especially when they are practical, can make a big difference in someone’s life.

2. Dignity is a powerful gift: Helping someone while preserving their pride and self-worth is one of the most meaningful forms of generosity.

3. Be the reminder you wish you saw more often: Whether you’re a business owner, leader, teacher, coach, presenter, your everyday choices can quietly restore faith in people.

Kindness still works and courtesy still matters. And gestures like this can remind us all that hope often shows up in the most ordinary places, like a dry cleaner. As long as we we’re paying attention and keeping our eyes, ears and our heart postured in the right direction, we can all get our...Courtesy On.