On my drive home from work today, I drove through Brampton as I do every day. I’m often distracted during the drive. I’m distracted by my dinging iPhone, by One Direction playing on the radio and by the thoughts running through my head. But today…luckily…I focused long enough to notice a teenage boy “shoveling” his driveway with a KFC bucket.
I normally don’t make a point of stopping the car to talk to strangers, but today I did. My curiosity got the better of me.
When I pulled up next to him, he looked up from his handiwork. I rolled down the window and he asked me if I needed directions. I didn’t.
I said, “No, I don’t. I just want to know why you’re using that KFC bucket to shovel your driveway.” He replied, “I don’t live here. This is my grandma’s house. She broke her shovel on the weekend and I’m using the bucket to clear the wet snow so she doesn’t fall. It’s a pretty sick shovel actually.”
Truth be told. It wasn’t “sick” at all. The wet snow had soaked through the bucket and it was beginning to fall apart. But he had managed to clear the walkway. I’ll give him that.
I told him he was a great grandson, rolled up the window and drove to Walmart. They sell shovels.
Every season is the season for giving
I’m always overwhelmed by people’s generosity at this time of the year. Food drives, mitten trees, feeding the homeless–all of this is important, of course. But I’ve always wondered why we need to wait until these standard seasons of giving to give.
Why can’t we be givers throughout the year? When it’s least expected?
From time to time I look up “#PayItForward” on Twitter. These random acts of kindness, especially those done to strangers, renew our faith in the dignity and generosity of the human spirit. And they inspire me to give more freely of my wealth and, more importantly, of my time.
A bigger gift
When I gave Sam the shovel, he looked at me like he was unsure. I told him that the shovel was a present for his grandma and that he was a bigger gift to her.
We sometimes underestimate the fabulousness of teenagers. Sure, sometimes they act like aliens, but don’t we all at some point?
Recently, I’ve spent quite a bit of time with high school students. Here’s what I can tell you about the ones I interacted with this week:
- They can be doggedly persistent, especially when it comes to Snow Days.
- They connect with adults who care about them.
- They care about their communities–even if they don’t show it.
- They pay it forward without even knowing they are.
If only the world could be as proud of them as I am of them this week. For real.
Over the holidays, please take a moment to thank a teen, any teen. Because for some of them, you may be the only person that does all year.
Bring the awesome...always 