Three Good Things

Canada is starting to jump on the Black Friday bandwagon (sometimes calling it Blue Friday) and this past Friday saw my Mom at a store for me by 8 am to pick up a gift I had wanted for Aidan's birthday.  When she approached the till, the woman asked her if she would like to donate $2 to pediatric cancer.  When my Mom agreed, the woman said, "there, you've done one out of your three kind things today".  She explained to my Mom, that since her kids were little, she taught them to do three kind things every day.  Holding a door open for someone, going to see someone who really needs you, picking up something someone else dropped - what have you.  At the end of the day while they are at the dinner table, she asks them what their three things were.  My Mom really liked this idea and so do I.

I try to do little things for people when I see them or think of them, but I've never put a conscience thought to it.

As the holiday season fast approaches, and with it also a season for some that is especially hard, I want to try and find ways to give a bit of a hug. 

Here are some of my bigger ideas:

• Adopt a Family.  We have done this in years prior and really enjoyed it.
• Toy Mountain - giving new toys to kids that would really love them.
• Good Will - I go through our clothes and toys before the holidays hit and donate what is still in good condition.
• Food Bank - I want to make a conscious effort to pick up food primarily for the food bank when I'm shopping.
• Visit  a Seniors Home.  I know there are lots of volunteer options over the holidays.  I'm going to see what they are.

And I have lots of smaller ideas to:

• Surprise treats in the mail to friends
• Visiting friends we haven't seen in far too long (young and old)
• Actually sending out Christmas cards (I've neglected this for two years... I think it's time).

And something I've always wanted to do, but never have - buy a coffee for the person behind me in the drive thru.

Do you have any ideas to add to the list?