One good turn is always appreciated

April 15, 2014 · 0 Comments

Mark Pavilons

Hopefully, acts of kindness are still in vogue.
We are about to celebrate Good Turn Week (April 26 to May 4), boosted by Scouts Canada.
The national organization is going above and beyond that week, supporting several large-scale community projects such as building portable libraries, refurbishing a community room and cleaning hiking trails in order to bring the week to Canadians.
“As we become more and more connected through technology, it’s easy to lose the kindness we share through face-to-face interaction,” says Kaylee Galipeau, national youth commissioner and chair of the National Youth Network, Scouts Canada. “Good Turn Week is a way for Scouts to celebrate our commitment to community service, but it’s also a challenge for all Canadians to reconnect on a basic level and become more caring, conscious citizens.”
There are countless simple good turns that only take a moment to do such as holding a door open for someone, giving up a seat on public transit or buying a coffee for the person in line behind you. Or devote a bit more time by volunteering at a local charity or baking cookies for colleagues.
A 2013 Harris/Decima survey commissioned by Scouts Canada examined the frequency in which Canadians perform good turns and found 51 per cent of Canadians are the recipient of a good turn at least once a month, while only 28 per cent of Canadians have a good turn performed for them twice a week or more.
The Scouts are leading the charge.
Some 150 Agincourt Scouts will hit the streets with their “Hike for Hunger” parade, with door-to-door collection of food donations for the local food bank and the goal to fill two 6′ x 12′ trailers to maximum capacity.
The 1st Centenary Scouts will revamp a community room at the Mornelle Court apartment complex to provide a safe and welcoming place for youth activities.
The 2nd Bramalea Scouts are taking the lead and building benches and cleaning up the hiking trails at Heart Lake to ensure they are safe for use following the damage caused by the December ice storm.
For more information on each project or Good Turn Week visit Scouts.ca/goodturn.
These young people and their dedicated leaders deserve a tip of the hat. I only hope the sentiment of Good Turn Week catches on like wildfire, and spreads from coast to coast.
Good manners are alive and well. Chivalry is not dead. One good turn does deserve another, and another.
I think it’s in all of us to give, to be compassionate and have empathy for our fellow men and women.
It’s evident every time there is a tragedy or natural disaster.
The public sentiment surround the missing Flight MH370 has stirred emotion world wide. Imagine, average citizens around the world shedding tears and offering heart-felt condolences and prayers for those lost in that tragic accident.
At church, on any given Sunday, parishioners send out their prayers to those within their community and around the world, in their time of need.
We are in the midst of the holiest time of year for Christians – the very heart and soul of the human race. There is no act more kind, more giving, than Christ’s sacrifice.
We’ve been given a challenge, so many years ago, to “pay it forward” each and every day of our lives. It’s unfortunate the past 2,000 years have been filled with conflict, death, disease, hatred and genocide. Perhaps one day soon the world’s religions and entire population will be united in our common characteristics – that of love, peace, compassion, hope.
It’s interesting that we adults need to be reminded of such things, by our young.
The Scouts, and our own children, tend to exemplify the genuine unspoiled altruism behind good deeds. Boy could we take a lesson from them.
It’s never too late for us to begin paying it forward, minus the long overdue interest payments.
I know charity begins at home and maybe that’s the best place to plant the seeds and grow such goodness. I know it’s tough when the dogs are dashing about, kids have homework and they’re all hungry. But we have to, our future depends on it.
I think Kim and I have done our jobs in that regard. Our eldest has a heart as big as the moon, and will go out of her way to talk to people, help them, open doors, do favours for people, etc. In fact, I know she’d give her last dollar to a homeless person or buy someone else lunch or a coffee.
Our other two are still in the evolutionary stage, but from all indications they’re on the right track.
Will good deeds and a good heart be all they need to arm them against the world? Not likely. But I firmly believe that you can succeed in business and still have a warm heart.
If not, what are we doing here?