08 November 1, 2008 - ObserverXtra

4 | NEWS
»FRoM thE EDItoR | StEVE KANNoN
What you do to others comes back in kind
“Buddy, can you
spare a dime?”
Instead of ignoring
the plea, looking
right through the
questioner – who,
frankly, will be looking
for much more
than a dime these
days – maybe you
could offer to buy him a coffee. If
that’s not your cup of tea, perhaps you
could offer some homemade muffi ns to
a neighbour. Something that exhibits
a bit of kindness to the people around
you.
On Nov. 14, the organizers of Waterloo
Region’s fi rst annual Random Act
of Kindness Day would like you to pick
something, anything, that shows a little
recognition to the people around
you. Even the basic courtesy of holding
a door open for someone would be
a good start.
Initiated by The Kitchener and Waterloo
Community Foundation, the day
aims to encourage us all to take note
that we live in a community shared
with others, where simple pleasantries
would make life much more enjoyable.
“It’s a day to promote some kindness
in our community, says the foundation’s
Tracy Van Kalsbeek. “People
are so busy these days, too busy to acknowledge
others – it’s a time to slow
down, take it easy and do something
kind.”
Maybe you buy a coffee for someone
standing in line at Tim Hortons on the
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A Day of Remembrance
Every November 11th , Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for
the men and women who served their country during wartime and in the
cause of peace. We honour their sacrifice and the sacrifices of our soldiers
today, who serve so we may live in peace.
Local Remembrance Day Ceremonies
Kitchener Cenotaph: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, 11:00 am
New Hamburg Old Arena: : Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, 11:00 am
New Dundee Park: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, 11:00 am
Elmira Cenotaph: Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, 3:00 pm
Linwood Cenotaph: Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, 1:15 pm
Friday morning in question. That person
responds by letting someone into
the line of traffi c during the commute
to work. With a smile and a wave, the
recipient of that little bit of consideration
shares a kind word with a coworker
…
It’s the pay-it-forward concept, she
says, referring to the Kevin Spacey
movie of the same name. Call it good
karma, if you will.
“What you put out into the universe
comes back tenfold. There’s all kinds
of negativity in the world right now –
the economy, the stock market – so it’s
a good time for something positive.”
To help get the word out, the foundation
is circulating 100,000 cards promoting
the concept. The cards will
encourage the cardholder to perform
a simple act of kindness for someone
– a neighbour, a friend, a co-worker, or
someone they don’t even know – and
hand the card over to that person, in
turn encouraging him/her to do the
same.
I’m curious to see what kind of impact
this idea will have here. It might
be a bit optimistic to visit Starbucks
awaiting someone’s offer to pay for my
decaf grande non-fat, no foam latte,
but perhaps a more subtle response
will ensue. The fact that it’s Friday
should help with the general mood of
the day, of course.
Doing something kind for a neighbour,
friend or colleague is all well and
good, but the real test will be extending
that sentiment to a stranger. There are
social norms about interacting with
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unknown people in public – there are
unwritten rules that see us do our best
to ignore the fact we’re surrounded by
strangers; the bigger the city, the stronger
the need for this ersatz privacy.
You can easily test that theory by attempting
to strike up a conversation
with strangers out in public. Most often,
they’ll be taken aback, and wary
of your intentions. Even in the case of
a shared experience – waiting in the
same line, for instance – the personal
boundaries are intact.
Most of us are very particular about
our personal space. It’s interesting to
watch how people attempt to distance
themselves as much as possible from
others in places such as waiting rooms
or on public transit. We try to keep
the maximum distance from everyone
else – it’s a well-studied mathematical
certainty. Want to rock the boat?
Try sitting right next to someone in a
sparsely occupied bus. Good manners
may lead the other person to do no
more than shoot you a dirty look, but
»ABoUt FACE
ALI BRUBACHER
Employee and volunteer, Chateau Gardens
How long have you been with Chateau
Gardens?
I started working here in 1974. I was in nursing
for 10 years and then I was housekeeping supervisor
until ‘91 when I took ill with a chronic
illness. I came back part time when the assisted
living centre was opened up in 2002. But I’d
started doing a little bit of volunteer work here
at the nursing home before that.
What do you like best about working/volunteering
here?
Having been ill for years, I’m so grateful for
what I can do again. I feel like I can relate a lot
better with them since I had my chronic illness.
The residents here are like my family.
The Observer | Saturday, November 01, 2008
there will be an uncomfortable feeling
in the air.
That thought led me to the discussions
about extending bus service to
St. Jacobs and Elmira, and why public
transit has a stigma in North America.
Certainly the car is king, and it’s
a symbol of independence and social
status, but there’s a well-researched
reluctance to share personal space
with others, unavoidable when using
transit. It’s one reason we try to avoid
using it if at all possible.
If you’re keen to take on the noble
challenge of Random Act of Kindness
Day, then, you’re best advised to choose
wisely unless you’re not overly prone
to bouts of public self-consciousness.
That’s not to downplay the The Kitchener
and Waterloo Community Foundation’s
attempt. If nothing else, it
should make each of us think about
our own public courtesies, or lack
thereof. A more pleasant public face
would be welcomed by all. What goes
around, comes around.
What do you do here?
I do everything and anything. I help with the
monthly outing to the mall, special events, the
newsletter. I just walk in and I see stuff that
needs to be done and I do it.
If you won a million dollars, what would
you do with it?
I was going to say invest, but I’m not sure it’s
good to invest right now. I certainly would
save for my own personal needs, but I would
also give to my special charities. And I would
think of a few friends.
Have you started Christmas shopping yet?
Matter of fact, I did one.
Are you a last-minute shopper?
No, I don’t like doing that. I hate shopping, let’s
put it that way.