When I was in Scouting in my youth, I waited impatiently for the next edition of Scout Life magazine (formerly Boys’ Life) to arrive in the mail. Whether my mother paid a bit more each year to treat me to the monthly editions of the all-things-Scouting magazine, I never thought to ask (or even thank her). What I can tell you is that reading the heroic tales in Scouts In Action of other Scouts’, performing acts of heroism and feats of lifesaving was truly thrilling to enjoy.

Yesterday, I stumbled across a brand-new South Carolina driver’s license and Social Security card in the parking lot of my neighborhood shopping center. It was one of those Candid-Camera tv show moments when I looked around, sure I was being tested. Nobody near me resembled the picture in the license, and I wondered how concerned the owner was about having lost two of their most important and sensitive pieces of identification.

A quick online search revealed nothing of the owner, but I figured the address listed on a new license was reliable; so, I tracked down the owner at the listed address. As you might imagine, they were cautiously appreciative, clearly thankful to have back their identification, but likely wondering how far a total stranger can be trusted. I must have an honest face, because they were truly appreciative of my efforts to reunite them with their missing identification.

So, is my good turn all that remarkable? Should I forward the details to Scout Life magazine? As much I enjoy being appreciated, sadly my small, good deed doesn’t rise to the level of heroism and self-sacrifice as the stories I read in my youth. However, the owner seemed appreciative of my efforts, and that is more than enough reward for my small act of kindness.

I’ll close with some advice I recently shared with the Lodge Executive Committee: take time to enjoy your small successes, having set meaningful but achievable goals. These “wins” accumulate quickly, and each achievement will seem to unlock the next. Indeed, you can get a lot of satisfaction from a job well done, even small jobs that only a few may notice.