bit of a blur, and when I was trying to write the RAK piece this month, nothing came to me, that is, until I started writing. Not knowing exactly where this piece was going to go this month, I started, and then slowly, several acts of kindness presented themselves, as they so often do.

Many of you likely know that Maggie Curry retired from MCSA this past month after more than 20 years of service. To see so many people come out for her retirement celebration was something quite beautiful to witness. Everyone that was there shared nothing but kind words. The one thing that stood out to me, and that seemed to be a recurring theme, was that Maggie has always worked from the heart. Whether you were speaking with family, friends, colleagues or residents of MCSA, you could feel the love and kindness that each shared for Maggie. When we can drop all of our own baggage and really work, and ideally just be, from the heart, we connect with others on a very authentic level, and with this connection, there is no end to what we can do, together. Thank you Maggie for impacting all of our lives, however long we have known you.

On a slightly different note, about a week ago, an elderly couple who live down the lane from us, had an unfortunate event happen to them. Their detached garage, and everything within, including three vehicles, went up in flames. It was a Sunday morning and I was taking out the trash, when I noticed flames more than a hundred feet in the air. I quickly got Jenny, and we both rushed down to the neighbors. When we got there, the garage was engulfed in flames, and firefighters were working to put out the fire. We joined a few of our neighbors on the side, and watched as firefighters made sure the flames did not spread into the house, and down the lane. The neighbors were fortunately already safe with firefighters by the time we arrived.

It seems that the fire started due to some kind of an electrical problem. It took a couple of days for the power to be restored to our neighbors' home, but overall they seem to be doing pretty well.  Not long after, Jenny brought over a flower arrangement and some tomatoes from the garden. They invited Jenny in and were thankful not only for the gifts, but for the conversation and the connection. Now each morning as we pass, there is a reminder of just how quickly things can change, and how fortunate we are to be alive and connected.

Finally, while a little further away, we came across a story that takes place in San Diego. Shannon Wasser is a mother of three who writes inspirational notes and leaves them at random locations for people to come across them. It is a beautiful story of a woman that turned her life around and is using her struggle to make a difference in the life of others, one hopeful note at a time. Please watch the video on NBC Nightly News at the following url:

Woman's Anonymous Notes Bring Hope to Strangers

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/woman-s-anonymous-notes-bring-hope-to-strangers-1003787331629

I'd like to report a Random act of Kindness: Yesterday, I took my family to Adventureland Park in Iowa. My wife, our 3 kids and I had a great time! Our kids are  ages 17, 14, and 12. Our 14 year old, Cannon, has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Some of our past trips have been a challenge to say the least. We've had to leave early, or one of parent would have to sit and wait with him. He was having a great day, lines were short and people were understanding. He even rode all the thrill rides without any prodding. One such ride really stands out. We had just boarded "The Outlaw" after the 3pm circus. The ride operator, Steve was checking seat belts. Steve asked Cannon, "Is your belt tight sir?" Cannon responded, "I'm not a sir, I'm Cannon!" Steve chuckled and said, "But you're still a Sir aren't you?" Cannon told him, "Nope! See I don't have a beard or mustache." Steve laughed and said, "Nope I guess you don't, how about young man then?" Cannon smiled and told him, "Yep!"

While it can sometimes be difficult to fully accept, life seems to give us exactly what we need at exactly the right moment. If we are present and trust life, life will guide us through the people we meet, the situations we encounter, the notes along the way. Not always easy to follow, but oh so true.

 

We would love to hear from you. Please submit your stories of Acts of Kindness to  [email protected].