Showing kindness to our neighbors is an important way to create a positive impact in our communities. It starts with our families, but it should not end their immediate neighbors should be one of the primary beneficiaries of kindness outside our family circle. This is an essential part of building a sense of community and support that can help us through challenging times.
In the case of Chris Salvatore, he exemplified this concept in a powerful way by striking up an unlikely friendship with an elderly neighbor, Norma Cook. When Chris moved into his West Hollywood apartment in 2015, he noticed Norma, who lived across from him on the same floor. She would always greet him with a friendly hello, and he soon began making regular visits to her apartment. This simple gesture developed into a meaningful friendship that would have a profound impact on both of their lives.
As the bond between Chris and Norma grew stronger, he started to post their delightful moments on social media. From celebrating holidays together to eating pizza in Norma’s bed, their friendship brought smiles to the faces of countless people who followed Chris’s posts. When Norma was diagnosed with leukemia, Chris turned to social media to ask for help with her mounting medical expenses. In less than 24 hours, his GoFundMe page raised over $30,000, a testament to how well-loved Norma was even by those who only knew her through Chris’s posts.
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When the funds ran out, Chris knew that he had to do something to help Norma. He offered to let her stay with him in his apartment so that she would not have to worry about bills and could receive the care she needed. This act of kindness would ensure that Norma spent the remainder of her days in the company of someone who loved and cared for her deeply.
While many might think that Norma was lucky to have Chris in her life, he believed that it was the other way around. Caring for Norma helped Chris rediscover the importance of family, love, and kindness. He realized that these were the things that truly mattered in life, and he was grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with someone who reminded him of this.
Sadly, Norma passed away in Chris’s arms a couple of years later. But her legacy lives on, inspiring people all over the world to see the true meaning of love. Norma and Chris’s friendship serves as a poignant reminder that small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on the lives of those around us. By extending kindness to our neighbors, we can create a sense of community that uplifts and supports us through the good times and the bad.