Kind acts

Showing kindness to all we interact with, is a part of our Kung fu training.  More than that though, it's part of life. Or at least it should be. I have had a few conversations lately about compassion, generosity, and how our lives can help shape the lives of others around us.  Or do they?  They should. I was hiking with Dean on Saturday and picking huckleberries. We talked about obituaries and how they sum up a persons life in a few measly paragraphs. "They had 4 children...lived most of their life in....worked at....were loved by family...."  Ok, but what about THEM. What were they like?  What legacy did they leave behind?  What did they do to make the world a better place because they were in it?  I often wonder what people will say after I am gone.

My Kung fu has made me more aware of noticing acts of kindness, but performing acts of kindness is something I have always done. I think most people do. Today, I really enjoyed being able to show compassion to a lady, and performing acts of kindness for her.

My moms friend, Val has been here visiting for a few days. She is 78, and moved away from Invermere 30 years ago As it turns out, she gave me a job when I was 18. Her and her hubby owned the local bakery here, and they hired me so long ago. They owned a bakery in Kelowna too, where Val now lives. Her hubby, an amazing baker, passed away 8 years ago, and his ashes, as he had requested, were strewn on the mountain which hosts the Panarama ski hill. We drove up there today, and while my mom and dad stayed at the bottom of the hill, I helped Val go up the chairlift.  We had a really good talk on the way up, and she expressed how much it meant to her, that I was here helping out my mom and dad.  When we got to the top, we hiked around to where her husbands ashes had been strewn. The family had taken a rolling pin and signed all their names on it, burried it, and placed a large rock on top, to mark the spot. Val told me this story with a break in her voice and tears in her eyes. Val placed some flowers on the rock, and I took a couple pictures of her there, for her to remember and show her family. Then I held her arm for support as we walked up the steep slope, and back to the chair lift. We held off going down right away, as the view was spectacular, and I wanted to give Val a few moments to be there before rushing back down. She was very grateful for me being there with her, and helping her to get down to the stone, and back up.  I felt honoured.

This is a special act of kindness for me.  It seemed very personable, as I suppose any act of kindness is. But somehow this one, was special. It really touched me somehow. I have always told my kids that I want my ashes to be thrown on a mountain top, yet I don't think that's why this experience was special. I think it meant a lot to me, because I knew it meant a lot to Val.

So when my time is up, will I be remembered because I raised 4 kids, and liked to kayak and hike and be in the outdoors?  I would hope to be remembered because I made a difference in the lives of others. To me, that is living a successful life.  I'm not wanting to be choosy either.  Young or old, I would like to reach out to everyone. You can never go wrong with compassion, generosity and love for your fellow man, woman and child. There certainly isn't anyone who couldn't benefit from it.  My Kung fu training, and the example that the school is to me when it comes to charity, has helped teach me that. Reach out to others that are outside our circle, as well as those within.  I need to watch for opportunities to touch the lives of others.  As I show compassion, and do acts of kindness, others may want to do the same.  Create that ripple.  A ripple of compassion. A ripple that will make our world a much better place to be, for everyone and everything.