Woman finds kindness in a slushie moment Kindness is Contagious columnist Nicole J. Phillips shares a story about a simple gesture that continued to help a Wisconsin resident long after it happened. Written By: Nicole J. Phillips | 6:00 am, Feb. 19, 2021 ×
Nicole Phillips, Kindness is Contagious columnist.
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to have an act of kindness that sticks with us well past the usual expiration date of our memories.
Beth Ferstl, from Sauk City, Wis., has one of those special stories that continues to speak to her when she needs it most.
“In the late 90s, my little brother’s best friend (died by) suicide. He decided to take a year off between sophomore and junior years of college and I was a new grad, so we got an apartment together.
"Kindness is Contagious" columnist Nichole J. Phillips shares a story about a simple gesture that continued to help a Wisconsin resident long after it happened.
"Kindness is Contagious" columnist Nichole J. Phillips shares a story about a simple gesture that continued to help a Wisconsin resident long after it happened.
But it wasn’t the end for me, because when the first career path didn’t turn out, or when I found my heart broken, I would remember that slushie moment, and head to the gas station. A slushie always changed my mindset and helped me move forward. Fast forward to 2009, I’m married and living in rural Wisconsin when I am told within 24 hours of giving birth that my son had a massive stroke in utero and lost 85% of his left brain leaving him with cerebral palsy and right-sided hemiplegia. Around other people, I held it together. In private, though, it was a different story.
"Kindness is Contagious" columnist Nichole J. Phillips shares a story about a simple gesture that continued to help a Wisconsin resident long after it happened.