By Mark Anderson I’m lucky to know a very cool couple who believe that all we need to solve our problems is random acts of kindness and compassion and everything else will take care of itself. Sounds simple, right?
I’ve lived in Powell River for a long time and feel I could write a book on how much compassion Powell Riverites have. On April 11 I added another chapter to my book, when my wife and I attended an event at Brooks Secondary School and the Max Cameron Theatre on the Compassion Project. This home-grown initiative was led by the youth of our community and this year they focused on gratitude—the simple act of being thankful. Students were asked to write letters of gratitude and a video documentary asked simple questions of our resident teens, who shared their wisdom and what they were thankful for. When we left the theatre that night, we felt that these kids were true community leaders and we only wished that more people in our town could have witnessed this incredible display.
My brother-in-law calls me “the why guy.” I’m not sure why. I suppose it means when people share with me their dreams of solving problems through acts of compassion and kindness, I want to know why this is such a good idea and I begin asking lots of questions.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Many elders in our local communities have figured out how to “smell the roses” after years of working hard and raising families. Spend a little time talking with them and you’ll hear story after story of gratitude and compassion, often learned the hard way, through pain and suffering. Too bad it took so much hurt to get there. I know, that’s life, but why not consider other options? The Compassion Project showed me another way of getting there by stepping outside our comfort zones and sharing our kindness and gratitude each and every day with our family, our friends and our neighbours. When you’ve mastered that, turn it up a notch and include strangers and when you’re really ready for a buzz, try including your enemies in the mix. All you get in return is a good feeling and a better community.
While the personal benefits of ramping up efforts to share kindness and compassion are obvious, some of the other linkages may not be so obvious. I spoke with successful business operators in the Powell River area and often heard that their drive to succeed was their passion for the area and how much they enjoyed living here. As we consider economic revitalization of our area, a community that is working on caring and kindness is a business opportunity as well. In addition to the breathtaking scenery, outdoor recreation opportunities and great climate, business-minded people will choose our community because we care about each other. They will come for lifestyle and the business will follow. Quality of life is a big part and something each of us can work on.
On May 23 our community has been challenged to do 10,000 random acts of kindness. This is our chance to practice and learn and give back to our community. Big or small, doesn’t matter. A smile is a great start.
Mark Anderson is a husband, father, grandpa, and a local forest manager, who loves living in Powell River; the best place on earth!
