RAOK

 Growing up, we had a May Day tradition of making May Day baskets and giving them to people.  The baskets (or plastic cups) would be decorated filled with popcorn, chocolate, sweets and other goodies.  To follow the real tradition, you would leave them on people’s door steps, ring the doorbell, and run away, so they wouldn’t know who it was from.  It is a fun tradition that I haven’t thought about for years.

Last week while preparing for today’s Girls Program, I remembered the May Day baskets and our random acts of kindness.  Along with my volunteers, we decided to do random acts of kindness at the Kennedy Centre (local mall).  Each of the girls arrived at our project centre ready for our “mystery” trip.  The volunteers and I explained that we would be giving out flowers with wee notes saying “You are a recipient of RAOK (Random Act of Kindness): ‘Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.’ –Mother Teresa. ”  We talked about the rippling affects of kindness and how it can change lives like in the movie Pay it Forward.  After the explanation, we loaded the bus to head to the Kennedy Centre.  A mixture of excitement and nervousness filled the girls.

After breaking up into pairs in the Kennedy Centre car park, we headed into the centre armed with flowers and kindness.   Walking around the Centre, I saw not only flowers spreading around, but also kind words and smiles.  Near the end of a long week, it often can be the little things that make all the difference. “You really brightened my day,” said one lady.  Some of our girls were touched by a man they gave a flower to then gave it to a little girl.  It felt good to do something kind with no hidden motive behind it.  We weren’t trying to recruit or raise money for anything even though some offered us money for charity.  Our only motive was to share kindness and brighten someone’s day.

I am so proud of our girls today.  They all stepped out of their comfort zones to share kindness with others.  They built new relationships partnering with other girls they didn’t know well.  Walking around the Kennedy Centre where they often shop, they had a different agenda- an agenda to spread kindness and start a rippling effect to those around them.  The truth is I think the ripples are starting within them as well.  I hope the ripples continue by sharing kindness tomorrow.