The Little Things
I have discovered so much about people on this venture. I have realized that the issues in the west are also the issues in the east. I have heard the same things over and over from Edmonton Alberta to Edmunston, New Brunswik. We have all come to rely on the little things that make us happy and bring us joy. Evening walks down a garden path, coffee or tea in a cafe with good friends, watching the sun set behind the mountains or simply reading a book by a fire. All these things and more can bring us such fulfilment and pleasure. They can take an otherwise dreary day and turn it into something amazing and even memorable. The unfortunate thing about all the little things; is they never quite seem to add up enough to wash out the big things.
This blog is about finding kindness. It is also about understanding that kindness is not earned, nor is it purchased. Being kind to someone does not automatically mean that they will be so kind as to return the favour. There is no certainty with that. However, more often than not if kindness is shown it is returned; in one way or another.
My patients have been tested ....A LOT...so far J The biggest test for me came yesterday as I was driving through Montreal and Quebec. Anyone who knows me will already know that my biggest pet peeves are rudeness, tailgating and bad driving all together. Well...every fibre of my being was ready to explode with anger yesterday. I have never witnessed anything like that before in my life. I will not go into details but I will tell you that I am not perfect and I am not someone who will just sit back and let others think that being rude is ok. Like I said before, this is a kindness tour; not a bend over and take it tour. I can honestly say I will never return to either of those places if that is how they drive all the time. It wasn’t even the driving part of it that made my anger boil over it was the sheer fact that they were rude, they cut others off they expected everyone else to conform to what they were doing. They were otherwise oblivious to anyone else on the road. I was more angered at that, as it seemed to be culturally acceptable to be rude and self centered and to ultimately put others in harm’s way.
I am sure I will have a backlash from the French Canadians on this one but let me assure you this post has nothing to do with the French / English division. It is simply an observation about a huge difference in what I personally feel to be acceptable driving for not only our own personal safety but for the safety of others as well.
Ok, I feel better now.
I would like to thank my Auntie Margo and Uncle Randy for their wonderful hospitality. I ended up sleeping the entire time I was there as I had come down with some kind of cold or flu. I did manage to have a couple meals with them and a tour of the city with my Aunt the day before I left. It was so great to reconnect with them and I look forward to coming back out east and spending some quality time with their family. I didn’t get a chance to go shopping with Faith but I am sure when I return for a visit we will be able to get some of that in. I would also like to thank my official tour guide, Peter. He was a great help and I hope to have more adventures with him when I return to Ottawa.
To close out this post I would like to add another friendly reminder. I want to thank everyone for your comments on my posts. They are great and I love reading. I may not get a chance to respond to all of them but I do get them and I look forward to reading many more. For the anonymous comments from the anonymous commenter...I would like to reiterate that I am not a writer. I do not have an editor nor am I doing this to have it critiqued. I am aware that I may have some errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. If you are enjoying my posts please continue to do so. If you are simply reading them to point out my errors than I will politely ask you to find another blog and practice your editorial skill on there.
Talk to you all soon
M
