Kindness in Action: From One Meal to a Movement

In mid-2024, I stopped into a small local restaurant for a casual meal. I ordered the Curry Laksa, one of my favourites and, as always, took a few minutes to snap some photos. It was a picture-perfect dish: colourful, beautifully presented, and steaming hot.

Just one bite, and I knew I had to say something. When I paid, I told the owners, who are also the chefs, that it was one of the best Curry Laksa I’d ever had. Their eyes lit up with quiet pride.

I asked if they’d be comfortable with me posting the photos and sharing an honest review. They agreed, a little shyly, and thanked me sincerely.

A few weeks later, I returned and the change was palpable.

The owners greeted me with huge smiles. “People have been coming in,” they said, “showing your photo on their phone and asking, ‘I want this!’” That single post had sparked new interest, new customers, and a renewed sense of excitement.

As we chatted more, I discovered their social media accounts were still under the previous owner’s control. We came up with a strategy: I’d help them access and rebrand their profiles, creating a fresh digital presence that reflected their unique personality and menu.

With cash flow tight, we agreed on a simple quid pro quo: I’d offer marketing support and mentoring and in return, they’d feed me like royalty once a week.

Since then, their business has grown steadily, even in a tough economic climate. Their confidence has soared, their social media is thriving, and they’ve built a loyal new customer base.

To this day, I still offer guidance in the background, because sometimes, the smallest gestures can ignite the biggest changes. A kind word. A good review. A little help behind the scenes. That’s the power of community, and that’s the heart of what I do.