Random Acts of Kindness

Whether you call it a Random Act of Kindness, Paying it Forward, Circle of Kindness or a Kindness Boomerang, it makes no difference. The terminology is one and the same for expressing a good deed often done anonymously or with little fan fare. It usually takes place between strangers.  One person sees another and wants to do something kind.

There's homespun kindness too and today was an exceptionally good day for that as I found myself on the receiving end of two completely unsolicited and unexpected gifts of kindness but not from strangers.  I happened to be home this afternoon when I heard a knock at my door. I opened it to find one of my neighbours with a gift of half a dozen cookies his wife had just baked.

The second surprise was opening my mailbox later in the afternoon and finding a wrapped gift from a friend I haven't seen in months!  The card reads "This book reminded me of you. It is about being happy and about diversity! Both of those things make me think of YOU"  and "I think you're wonderful".

Instantly, the cover of  "HAPPY", which is published by Lonely Planet had me excited and its secondary title "Secrets to Happiness from the Cultures of the World"   had  me intrigued. As I quickly flipped through the pages I saw awesome photos and headings like "Live in the Now" and "Allow yourself to luxuriate".

You can bet I was grinning ear to ear that someone could be so sweet as to send me such a fun and thoughtful gift. After a cup of tea and a gift cookie, I started to read the foreword of gift book:

  "There is a famous story about two children who set out to find a bluebird; they travel all over the world only to find it in their own backyard when they return home.  The bluebird, of course, represents happiness and the moral of the story is that happiness is found when you stop looking for it..."

I'm gobsmacked. I quickly recalled my day thus far.  Just this morning I met a  neighbour --not the cookie gifter but a different one --for a walk, and as she and I strolled and chatted, a Steller's Jay chastised us as it flew past and perched in a  nearby tree. Michele commented on how she loved his blue colouring and I agreed.  It's the only kind of "blue bird" we have in this area.  Anyway, Michele is not only my neighbour but has become a dear friend over the years and because yesterday was her 50th birthday I had asked her to come in for tea and sweets after our walk and as we sat together I presented her with the gift bag and the card that I had written on last night. I had selected her favorite colour of blue for the contents of the bag and the card had a bluebird on the cover with my words inside: "May the bluebird of happiness sing for you every day of your 50th year".

Cue the music from "Twighlight Zone" folks, this was an extraordinary day