The Pie Buddy
We volunteered at Norman High School this week with Norman Food and Shelter, serving meals for Thanksgiving. As I was handing out pies, a young guy walked up, looked me square in the eyes, and said, “I’m going to be your buddy.”
“Got it,” I said, smiling.
Without hesitation, he took charge. He showed me exactly how it was done—how to hand out pies, when to offer them, and how to keep the line moving. “When we get to the table,” he said, “I’ll ask if they want a pie, and you scoop the Cool Whip.”
After the first round, he switched it up. “You do the Cool Whip; I’ll ask for the pies.” We kept at it until every slice was served.
Then he turned, completely composed, and said, “Okay, now you’re on roll duty.”
Later, as I stood in line packing a few to-go orders, he came over again and said, “Add two more to my order—I’ll handle the pies.”
I stood there smiling, watching him move with such purpose. Somewhere in his confidence and kindness, I saw a reflection of myself—the kid who loved to lead, to organize, to help. I thought of the afternoons I spent playing school or office, the homemade IDs Aunt Karen would print for me at Berkeley Printing, and the way I always found myself “in charge.”
It’s funny how life circles back, offering tiny mirrors that show us who we’ve always been.
That young man reminded me of something powerful: we all carry the spark of leadership, no matter our age or title. Sometimes it shows up in boardrooms, sometimes in classrooms, and sometimes beside a table full of pies and Cool Whip.
Kindness has a way of bringing that out in us. It invites confidence, courage, and connection. When we feel seen, we step forward. When we feel trusted, we rise. When someone gives us space to shine, we often discover who we were meant to be all along.
Neuroscience tells us that kindness doesn’t just make us feel good—it activates the same reward centers in the brain as receiving a gift. It releases oxytocin, the hormone that builds trust and strengthens relationships. That’s why moments like this matter. They remind us that belonging isn’t built in big gestures—it’s built in small ones, shared between people who choose to see each other.
That day, serving pies turned into something more—a reminder that leadership can be found in the most unexpected places, and kindness is the soil it grows from.
5 Ways to Be the Light
Notice the spark. When you see someone stepping up, let them. Sometimes leadership begins with opportunity.
Encourage confidence. A kind word can unlock courage in someone who’s still learning to believe in themselves.
Remember your roots. The child you once were still has something to teach you. Pay attention when life mirrors it back.
Serve alongside, not above. True leadership isn’t about control—it’s about connection.
Let kindness lead. Whether it’s pies, people, or purpose, the heart of kindness always finds its way back to you.
Being the Light doesn’t mean doing it all. It means showing up with gratitude for the small moments that remind us who we are and why we do what we do.
Keep shining, friends.
The Kind Advantage reminds us that kindness is not one more thing. It is the thing that changes everything.