Choose to be kind

The other day, my friend and I were out for lunch at a popular shawarma place downtown. We bumped into a friend, someone that we see from time to time at social events.

Before our friend left, he came by our table and dropped off 2 deserts for us, just like that, for no good reason, other than just to be kind. It was a nice gesture that got my friend and I talking about when the last time we did something nice for someone else was.

I'm not talking about typical day-to-day kindness that goes on between you and your loved ones. The kind gestures we do at home are always there - I often come home with little surprises for my children, or give them special treats for no good reason at all. And I'm not talking about spending quality time with your kids, either, because I think that's a given. I love being engaged with my children, playing with them, going to the museums and local attactions, and being totally involved with them when I'm not working - being together as a family.

I'm talking about doing something out of the ordinary. Showing someone else - someone who is very deserving - how much they really do mean to you.

I'm talking about doing something nice for a complete stranger.

I'm talking about helping your favourite charity.

This week, the city I live in is celebrating Kindness Week. People all across town will be doing something extra kind for other people all week long.

Like bringing in baked cookies for co-workers. Dropping off food at the local food bank. Helping the elderly. Buying coffee for the person in line behind them. Giving their magazines to a doctors office. Putting change in an expired parking meter.

The other night, out for dinner with my friends from the Yummy Mummy Club, I realized I didn't have my wallet with me. Luckily my friend quickly came to my rescue. It's those little gestures that are much appreciated!

What am I doing for Kindness Week?

First, I'm going to thank my grandmother for coming over almost every single morning to take care of my children while I go to work. I don't think she understands how much we appreciate and love her. She's at my house by 7 every day, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of my boys, always with a smile on her face.

This week I'll be treating her to a gift certificate to her favourite salon to show her how much she means to me.

I'm also going to go to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to drop off a few bags filled with almost-new toys and books that my children no longer need.

Over the weekend, my oldest son and I spent an hour going through all his toys in his basement playroom, and he loved the idea of giving away things other children could get good use out of.

CHEO will always hold a special place in my heart, because my son was treated there several times, for a few kidney infections and for a severe case of pneumonia, a case so severe he was there for over two weeks and needed to go through surgery. The 4th floor, east wing is a familiar place for us and every year, I do what I can for CHEO. They are the one place I donate to financially, year after year.

This week, I will also go out of my way to keep a smile on my face, and will try to not get annoyed with people who drive too slow or come to complete stops going over speed bumps.

I will grin and bear it! I will be more kind! I will not fight with my sister! I will not yell at any family members! I will also buy the person behind me their coffee at Starbucks.

Thanks, Rebecca, for asking me to write about Kindness Week!

I'd like to ask you now... what are you doing for Kindness Week?

Even if you don't live in the same city as I do, perhaps you'll be prompted to do something extra kind for someone else in your life this week, or even for a complete stranger!

How will you be kind this week? How will you Pay It Forward?