My holiday challenge to you

The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on the year that’s coming to a close. It’s natural to take a moment from the hectic holiday grind to recall fond memories from the year gone by, and also re-live experiences that have helped us grow.

I find there is often a common thread in these memories, and that’s the people who helped create them. Whether it’s the overwhelming desire to celebrate big news with someone, or the comfort of knowing someone cares when tackling a new challenge, there’s no shortage of ways friends and family enrich our lives.

As I reflect on this past year and the moments and people that stand out, I’m reminded of a small act of kindness I witnessed on a recent business trip to Western Canada. The circumstances were unfortunately typical—an elderly gentleman was attempting to board an oversold flight, making his way to his seat against an aggressive, impatient business traveler crowd. He was confused, not knowing the rules about baggage placement and frustrated he could not move quickly enough to accommodate the bullies behind him. In a hurry myself, I offered to carry his bags and walk with him down the jetway so he could get to his seat as unscathed as possible. Partway through the flight, he began asking for blankets as he was freezing. His pride would not allow him to accept the offer of my scarf, so I asked the flight attendant to bring him a blanket from the duty-free store that I would pay for. Once she understood the gentleman’s plight she brought it quickly, and assured me the airline would cover it for him. As he wrapped it around his shivering body, I had tears in my eyes thinking about how lonely and confused he seemed in a world that does not slow down for elderly, frail people.

What really strikes me about this memory is how a seemingly small gesture had such a large impact.  The power of humility, and the extraordinary impact of a simple act of compassion came together to inspire me to go out of my way for someone else, something I don’t do enough when travelling for business. Plus, the joy in enlisting others to the cause gave the flight attendant one more reason to appreciate her job that night. At the end of the flight, I also got to enjoy a hug from an eighty-nine year old traveler who needed a little bit of kindness.

Human compassion is the very best thing one person can give another. Being in the greeting card business, I am fortunate to play a small part in these exchanges of kindness, and it inspires me every single day.

The holidays can be a particularly stressful time of year for some. At a time when so many people are feeling stretched too thin, it’s more important than ever to show you care. That’s why I’m challenging everyone, including myself, to care enough to make sure somebody knows just how important they are this holiday season. Whether you let someone in front of you on the highway, offer to help unload groceries, or even send an unexpected greeting card to show someone you care, these small acts of kindness will bring joy to you and others this holiday season.  I guarantee the investment of your time will pay dividends for everybody involved. It’s amazing how even the smallest actions speak volumes about how much you care.

Let’s all come together to show that when we care enough, we can change the world one small act of kindness at a time.