Starbucks barista lifts woman's mood with extraordinary service — then a secret note yields her biggest reward

You never truly know what someone is going through until you see life from their side. Sometimes, a small act of kindness can brighten a day in ways you’d never expect. This is the story of how one Starbucks barista’s simple gesture came back to her in the most heartwarming way. Sharing the video on TikTok, she gained massive praise from viewers moved by her actions.

Courtney Crawford was not your regular barista; she has always been known as a 'peppy and cheerful woman' who doesn't mind going the extra mile to make someone's day. Working at the Starbucks in Little Rock, Arkansas, Courtney was working her regular 5:00 a.m. shift when she noticed a customer who seemed to be having a rough day. Courtney, unaware of what was bothering her, decided not to just hand her a cup of coffee but to give her a "pick me up." Later, she received a note from her manager, which was handed to her by the woman she had decided to cheer up. Crawford, who read the note, was instantly filled with tears. The sweet note from the stranger read, "I travel a lot for work, which usually means late nights and very early mornings. I haven't traveled 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 who has been genuinely kind. You were the first face I saw this morning. You really brightened my day."

Adding a $200 bill to the note, she continued, "Treat yourself to something. I can tell you deserve it." The woman signed her note "the groggy woman at 5:00 a.m." To the stranger, it may have been a favor she wanted to pay back to the barista who brightened her day. However, for Courtney, it meant much more than that. The young barista, who read the note to her TikTok followers, said in a tearful confession that she was going to embrace her first Mother's Day alone after her mother's demise the previous year. Courtney, who works at Starbucks as a side hustle while holding a full-time job, revealed that she was struggling with a lot of debt. In a candid confession, Courtney revealed, "I have a lot of bills to pay and a lot of debt that I have inherited to get under control, and I would be lying to you if I told you that I was not dreading Mother's Day."

She thanked the kind stranger for making her day, as she could finally buy a beautiful urn for her mother's ashes. "With the $200 you put in that note today, that allows me to spend Mother's Day with my mom." Requesting her TikTok followers to help her find the kind stranger, Courtney wished to meet her in person to thank her for her kind gesture. "I appreciate you so much, so if you're out there, and if you're on TikTok, thank you for the impact that you made on my life. I hope that you see this and know that you did something that I will never forget. So, thank you." Unsurprisingly, Courtney's video crossed 3 million views, with even Starbucks commenting under the post: "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."

In a 2022 study authored by Amit Kumar and Nicholas Epley, the researchers found that people consistently underestimate how much their kind gestures mean to others. The researchers conducted a series of experiments where participants performed small acts of kindness, such as giving away a hot drink or writing a thoughtful note, and then rated how meaningful they thought their gesture would be to the recipient. The study highlighted that people often misjudge the ripple effects of their kindness, leading them to miss out on opportunities to uplift others and, in turn, experience their own emotional reward.

After Courtney's video drew millions of online users' attention, many people across the country praised the young barista's and the stranger woman's act of kindness. @jonquilmani28 commented, "And this is the kind of Tiktok that deserves to go viral." @julzie67 wrote, "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." @zaragoza63 wrote, "YOUR MOM SENT THAT WOMAN TO YOU!"

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