Today, is one super windy and blustery day here in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The wind is blowing and gusting. Anything not nailed down or secured is coming up in the wind along with the left over construction dust from the road work that was recently finished. Before running some errands I replaced stakes in our inflatable Halloween decorations and rescued tombstones that were running away into the driveway.
When I arrived at my neighbourhood Shoppers Drug Mart I noticed that their sandwich board stand was blown over on the ground. (Now, that is a testament to the wind as the board stand is metal.) Without even thinking I picked it up and instead of standing it back up open I leaned it closed between the open and closed doors. I was startled when a voice behind me asked, “Why did you do that?” as I was walking in the doors. I turned around and said, “Why not?” to the gentleman.
It was almost like I could see the gears in his mind actually turning as he pondered my action with my statement. There was a weird silence so I added, “An elderly person in our neighbourhood or someone with a cane could trip on it.” I was thinking of how I didn’t even see the sign down on the ground until I was almost upon it myself. We stood there for a moment looking at each other and he finally responded with, “Well, that is a very kind thing to do.” And then he walked away.
At first I find myself dismayed wondering just how can I possibly be such an oddity no matter where I live. But then I stop myself. Perhaps it isn’t that I am quite so odd in a negative sense. Perhaps it is more that I gave him pause to realize the impact of little things we do that can have impacts on others. The action of putting up the sandwich board took less time than the conversation that I had with the man. It was such a quick action for me to do but it will be ripple outwards for longer than that. And just think, maybe this man will go about his day or even his week with a different perspective.
I think sometimes we think an act of kindness is an actual tangible act that we actively choose to do for another. Like donating money to the food bank, or shovelling a neighbour’s walkway, helping a friend, or buying a coffee for someone in line. But acts of kindness can be found in these other things. Actions we do without even thinking. As you go about the rest of your day think about acts of kindness that you do automatically. And the next time someone asks you, “Why did you do that?” Answer with, “Why not?”