kindness makes the world go round

Since I arrived in Vancouver, I've had some pretty awesome things happen. Some of them have been minor, such as a customer giving me a beautiful plant that became my makeshift Christmas tree and brightened my holiday season. Others have been incredibly kind, such as my friend who offered his apartment for me to house sit while he's in Montreal for a few months. Those around me have remarked how "lucky" I am. But I'm not one to believe in luck. However I am beginning to see some value in Karma and that if you do good things, good things will happen to you. I'm not naive enough to think the universe is playing along with my theory, but it's working out for me.

How often do you see someone walking down the street struggling with their bags? Do you offer to help? Do you give change to beggers? Do you hold the door for the person behind you? Your answer may well be yes. But is it always yes? A few months ago, feeling very humbled by the generousity from which I've benefited, I decided I wanted my answer to be yes as often as it can be. 

My little acts of kindness have been tiny. Helping a woman carry her suitcase down the stairs at the train station. Pulling the cord to stop the bus at the next stop so the woman I saw sprinting down the street would be able to get on. Leaving my spare ticket for the Ash Grunwald gig at the door and telling the seller to give it to the next person who walked in. Pushing the button at the traffic lights so the cars waiting at the side streets can get onto the main road. Giving my bus pass to a co-worker to use for the rest of the month while I'm away. I'm not changing the world, but hopefully I'm making someones day a little bit better.

Today I came across a guy who kicks my actions out of the water. Ryan, from Chicago, has a website called 366 Days of Random Acts of Kindness. Each day he posts a new act of kindness that he will do that day. They have included giving out compliments, buying someone breakfast, letting EVERYONE go in front of him for a day, leading a discussion at a halfway house and giving out free hugs. Some help lots of people, some just one (Ryan cleaned the entire house for his wife). Often it's not about helping people - just making them smile counts.

Ryan is doing a random act of kindness every day. It's something I'd love to be able to say I do. But I don't. I don't think many of us do. Imagine what sort of world it would be if we all did.

Challenge to my rather small readership circle: Do something kind for someone today. And tomorrow.