Like any other day, the mother-son duo was on their way to Planet Fitness, located in Woonsocket, from Burriville, for a daily workout. Mondays looked the same every week. First, the mother picked up her special needs son, CJ, from school, and then it was time to get physically fit. The moment they reached the front desk of Planet Fitness, a realization hit. Where were CJ’s sneakers?
When the mother realized the missing sneakers, she had to figure out what to do next, as the day couldn’t pass without them. With her head in her hands, she started wondering. The cherry on top was that the mother had also forgotten her pocketbook, which meant no money. They could not get new shoes and had no cash to return home for now, as the car also needed a gas refill. Such situations in life make you patient like no other significant event. The manager at Planet Fitness was kind enough to ponder the possible solutions to this problem and even gave a few suggestions, as none of them wanted the visit to go to waste.
Thus, without wasting any more time, CJ and the mother decided to try light exercises for the day that did not require shoes or socks. While they were doing the exercises, they were left stunned in the next few minutes. A staff member from Planet Fitness quietly approached them and asked about the boy’s shoe size.
The mother immediately told the staff member, as all that could pop up in her mind was that they might check the size in the lost and found section, but the chances were low that they could see his size. Due to his illness, CJ’s hands and feet were comparatively smaller than a normal man’s, so they did not think much about it and continued their light workout.
In a few minutes, Daniel Cote, the manager at Planet Fitness, walked towards them, holding a brand-new pair of sneakers. It was for CJCJ! The staff purchased the pair from a couple’s store—Olympia Sports nearby—and offered them, but this little act left them speechless.
Also, the manager sat on his knees and helped CJCJ wear those shoes; someone captured this beautiful moment. When the video was published, it broke the internet! Kindness doesn’t go in vain, ever.
No one there knew how anxious the mother felt when she realized they had no shoes, and Daniel had unintentionally taken a major stressor of the day away from her. She no longer had a hundred thoughts but just one: how grateful she was. A small act of kindness goes a long way; this event is one of the most beautiful examples.
In an interview, the mother said that people like Daniel help restore her faith in humanity and kind hearts. The manager is now a reason for their happiness to visit Planet Fitness every time. Although for Daniel, it might be a small act to help someone feel better, for CJCJ and his mom, they are an example of how beautiful the world would be if there were more kind people around. Love is everywhere!
