I have tried to be an optimistic person most of my life even when challenging times are present and the world seems to be disconnected.

That’s where I see this ole world being right now, disconnected, or perhaps I have become disconnected from the world. It would be easy to do considering all we have been through over the last couple of years.

I have found fewer and fewer people who share a smile or say, “Have a good day,” just for the pure pleasure of saying it. And I’m just as guilty sometimes.

It seems I have an over-loaded mind with the economy in the tank, gas prices through the roof, turmoil in the news, and a sense of unrest in the world.

So, before I completely fall to pieces and depress you all, I would like to share a story that has made me feel that perhaps, there is hope after all.

During a recent trip to a campground with our RV in tow, we had a tire blowout on the camper. While we were several miles from the nearest town, we were on a highway that had ample room to pull off the road.

Upon inspection, I knew this was a job too intense for me to handle alone. Some friends of ours would be coming along soon since we were headed to the same campground. But, while we waited for the “calvary” to arrive, I wanted to get started on the task, as best as I could.

While lying on the ground underneath the camper trying to position my jack, I noticed all the vehicles zooming past and mentioned that folks just don't stop to help anymore. Had all kindness disappeared?

Soon our friends arrived and as we began the tire-changing task at hand, a car stopped, and three young men jumped out with tools in hand. They had passed by earlier and went to their nearby home to get a few things we might need.

They sprang into action, had us ready to roll in no time, and were so kind and helpful. As they made their way back to their car, I asked if I owed them anything. After all, they had gone to a lot of trouble to help us; offering a little pay was the least I could do, or so I thought.

For a moment, I felt as though I had offended them with the offer as they quickly declined the pay. It was then I realized they went out of their way to help out of the kindness of their hearts, not because they thought about getting paid to do it.

Maybe I have been mistaken about the present state of people in the world. Don't get me wrong; it is far from sunshine and daisies every day. But I found at that moment the goodwill in people is still there, and if a blown tire was needed to discover that, then so be it.

I’m not sure I will ever see those young men again, but I hope they somehow know how much we appreciated their help and their kindness.

While we all continue to move forward through these often tough days, it’s good to know that kindness is still in style, and helping our neighbors is more important than ever. By the way, we are all neighbors in one sense of the word, as we travel down the backroads.