Week Forty Two: Giving Directions to a Stranger.

This week’s gesture is small and common, but a very helpful one. As I was rushing on my way to work one morning, a stranger stopped me on the street for directions. My bus was just about to arrive so I was debating on whether to stop or not in fear of being late for work. I figured, why not – this might help the person tremendously. So I did, and even assisted the person to her destination as it was on my way. Turns out I was able to help the person out and make it for my bus on time. 

Instagram: @geneseguin. #k4kproject

Sometimes helping someone out does not require the least bit of sacrifices. 

G.

Week Thirty: Bringing a Bag of Food to a Homeless Couple.

This week’s big 3-0 gesture goes out to my amazing mother who always seems to inspire me to be a better person.  

Around this time last year, she was explaining to me that an itinerant was hanging around the chipstand that she owns near Sudbury. Everest was a harmless, kind and hungry man, who would keep to himself and not harass anyone for money. My mom, not being able to stand seeing anyone struggle, felt bad for the fellow and started giving a free meal once in a while. Some loyal customers started noticing this. One day, one man gave my mother some money and told her to make Everest anything he wanted. This other woman, who saw this occur, did the same, which also encouraged a kid to give the rest of his change to the homeless man. Next thing you know, Everest had a couple bucks in his pocket and was able to sustain and nourish himself for a little while. A couple of days later, a cop car drove up to the chipstand. The police were there to take Everest away in order to find him a shelter and to help him get back on his feet. As the police car drove away, Everest’s last words to my mom were: “Thank you for everything. I’ll never forget you.”

Where is Everest now? We don’t know. We can only hope that those couple of days stay at my mom’s chipstand not only gave him more time, but the right moral support to inspire him to help himself as well.

What amazed me from this story was the ripple effect that one little gesture initiated, which eventually grew to bigger and better things.

So this week, I decided to do my own version of this by prepping a little bag of food and dropping it off to someone in need. The designated recipients were a couple sitting on the street and who seemed to be struggling a lot. I asked them if they were hungry and with a despaired look in their eyes, they responded with a yes. I handed over the bag and they both thanked me repeatedly, sporting the biggest smiles on their faces. 

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

I also have to add that this week, I was also inspired by one of Herdmag’s article in their 4^th issue named HighJinx, Antiques & Vintage Oddities With A Serving Of Soul. I highly recommend grabbing one and reading that very well written piece. In a nutshell, it talks about HighJinx, a locally-owned antique shop in Ottawa who strives to help out vulnerable people in the community with the money that they raise selling unique treasures and pieces. They think and operate outside the box by adopting a very different business model, and they know how to make it work. An article well worth reading.   

It makes me happy that there are some good folks out there. I’m also delighted and feel fortunate enough that my mother is one of them.

G.