After writing Golden Rules those years ago, I became more aware of performing what I'd call micro-compassions (in contrast to micro-aggressions). These are small, often unseen or unnoticed ways of making the world a better place. 1/7

I'm convinced that these small moments are essential to ethical living.

Bouncing off Golden Rules, I now clean the toilet seat in single-use restrooms (like Starbucks) if there's pee on it even if I did not use the toilet. 2/7

It's a kindness to those who use the restroom after me. Micro-compassions can involve any number of small intentional kindnesses. Stuff like returning shopping carts to proper places. 3/7

When it comes to masking, I wear a mask outdoors even when not overtly necessary for my health or yours (because we are pretty sure the virus doesn't really spread through outdoor contact). 4/7

I work mornings on a sparsely populated patio outside my Starbucks. The nearest neighbor is more than 20 feet away. Still, I work at my easel in a mask as a micro-compassion. 5/7

The idea is this: the more people one sees wearing a mask, the more comfortable they will feel wearing a mask themselves, thereby generally promoting methods proven to reduce spread of this particular virus. 6/7

If I do a small thing like wear my mask at my patio table, I'm working (incrementally) toward making our community healthier, which in turn works toward both its economic health and its psychological health (a healthy community sends its children back to school sooner). 7/7

[Oh and if you're curious about Golden Rules - and why wouldn't you be? - you can read it here: http://sethhahne.com/comics/golden_rules/. It's about toilet ethics.]