Starbucks barista unable to afford an urn for her late mom dreaded her first Mother’s Day alone — until a 5 a.m. order took an unexpected turn
Kindness has a strange way of coming back to us, and we often underestimate how a simple act can brighten someone's day. A Starbucks employee named Courtney (@dopaqueen715) decided to lift a woman’s spirits in a small but meaningful way, even though she was struggling to cope with her mother's loss. The barista was worried about spending the Mother's Day alone for the first time and not being able to afford an urn for her beloved mum. However, her selfless gesture toward a stranger came back to her as a most heartwarming reward, bringing her to tears. The post shared on April 25, 2024, gained over 830K likes on TikTok.
@dopaqueen715 Tik tok! Help me get this message to her! #mysterykindness #goodsamaritan ♬ original sound - Shnortney
Courtney worked at Starbucks in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a barista. She was no regular barista; she was always known as a "loud-and-proud-and-peppy" woman who enjoyed her side hustle. During one of her 5 a.m. shifts, she noticed a customer who seemed to be having a rough day. The barista did not mind going the extra mile to bring a smile to her face. A couple of minutes later, she received a note from her manager, passed on by the customer.
Courtney, who read the note, was instantly filled with tears. Reading the note to her TikTok followers, she said, "I travel a lot for work. That usually means late nights and very early mornings. I haven't had to travel to Little Rock in six months until this week. I've been here for two days, and so far, you have been the only person I have encountered that has been genuinely kind. You were the first face I saw this morning. You really brightened my day."
The note continued, "I'm sure you're exhausted, because life, right? That's all of us. But you deserve to know that you made a difference in someone's day today just by being kind." To her surprise, the "groggy woman" had decided to leave a $200 bill with the note and asked her to treat herself to something she deserved. The barista, in tears while reading the note, revealed the pain she had been hiding under her smile.
In a tearful confession, Courtney revealed that she was going to celebrate her first Mother's Day after her mom's demise. Although she had been working full-time and part-time jobs to manage her bills, she had been struggling to buy an urn for her mother's ashes. She thanked the stranger for making her day and fulfilling her wish to finally afford an urn.
In a 2022 study authored by Amit Kumar and Nicholas Epley, people often underestimate the value of kindness and the impact their gesture can have on the recipient. The study conducted multiple experiments where participants were allowed to showcase small acts of kindness. The results indicated that people often undervalue the impact their kindness can have on the receiver. The barista just wanted to bring a smile to a customer's face, but what the customer did not know was how her kind note of gratitude, along with her reward, had now had a lasting impact on the barista, who was struggling with her own set of problems in life.
Her video went viral, with internet users sharing their heartwarming messages. @Starbucks, who came across the video, wrote, "You. Are. Incredible! Thank you, Courtney, for being a shining example of the power of kindness. We’re so proud to call you a partner." @julzie67 penned, "That is called 'A tap on the shoulder' from your Mom to this lady, which made her be at your work that day. Keep being you." @TeacherMeagan remarked, "Girl, oh my God, how sweet! I'm sobbing! What a wonderful person! You both didn't realize you needed each other."