Yayyyy!!! Being end of year with Santa en route, I get to do a detour this month and write beyond the work that I undertake on your behalf everyday which understandably is serious in nature and content, though may not be that exciting to read especially when it involves legislation!
And what I would like to share is overwhelming, life changing, extremely powerful and what every single human needs. It is kindness, and how our community is full to the brim with those who practice this without even realising.
What is kindness, really? The Oxford dictionary says it is ‘the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate’.
However, every day, in every way, I get to see firsthand acts of kindness by residents, organisations and movements that extends way beyond that simple explanation.
Yes, it is choosing to do something that helps others, or putting others needs before our own. It can be listening, smiling and connecting, complimenting, caring and sharing.
It can be delivering the cutest of handmade messages and hearts to our elderly as our youngsters from Cooroy After School Care do which is beyond heartwarming!
It is having real empathy, the kind that is about putting yourself into someone else’s shoes, even when they are uncomfortable.
Kindness is a form of love, and brings with it the same warm feelings, hope and desire, to share these feelings. It is not that difficult to teach kindness, as all you have to do is be kind as when others are touched by it, ‘paying it forward’ becomes its own force, mantra and movement. Kindness is something anyone can do, without losing anything themselves, and is the most underrated agent of human change.
In this detour, I should give some context through memories of those close to me with lived life experience. From my mum, who with her siblings lived in a time of great hardship without a mother, kindness came in the form of an orange, and a pair of pyjamas at Christmas from a caring neighboring family. She cannot remember there being anyone who officially made things better for those experiencing vulnerability, however, has never forgotten the once-a-year delectable, tangy taste of citrus, and how now it is still a favourite.
Move forward a couple of decades to when I was a youngster (yes, we are talking over 50 years ago!!) and kindness came from our local minister and his wife who provided us with a shed to live in, as well as babysitting so mum could continue working. At Christmas there may have been no ham, turkey or pudding, however, there were PJs and a bouncy ball that I was enthralled with, though not so the home-grown chicken that graced our plate which anyone from that time will understand why, including that draining via the clothesline. Nothing more needs to be said here on that!!
Jumping ahead another 20 years to when my children were young, regardless of our situation, we made sure the PJs were there in the Christmas mix.
A different era from my mother’s where now there was assistance from government, however, not for those in employment deemed over the income threshold. Fabulous kind families and programs through organisations such as the Smith Family and others ensured that we all made it through what was termed by the late Queen as an annus horribilis, or as we described it, really tough times that we thought would never end, and included some shed dwelling!
Then we come to the ‘now’, and how truly grateful I am for the incredible kindness and efforts over the past 80 years and beyond, that have led us to a space here in Noosa where the most awesome people and organisations work all year to make the tough years easier. I need much more than the space available here as I need a whole book to applaud them.
Given it is Christmas, I will just touch on examples of those who make the holiday season extra special for those experiencing hardship.
There are so many. Whether it is Lorraine and her team from Santa’s Classy Helpers, who have now for a decade delivered to over 1000 Noosa children and their families every year trolley loads of everything they could wish for at Christmas. Pantry and household items, clothes (including new PJs), gifts, fruit and vegetables and much more. I am in awe and so appreciative of those who work, fund raise and donate all year to make this possible, and on the day create magic including the delectable sausage sizzle from our Lions Club volunteers that always has our mouths watering. Then we have initiatives such as the Christmas Giving Trees, and organisations such as the Salvation Army who with the help of Perky Toebells and Squeezy Peppermint, prepared Christmas Hampers for over 150 of our families. That is just the tip of the iceberg!
Going back pre-Covid, we always had a Christmas Day Lunch for those who were alone or experiencing vulnerability including homelessness. Enduring financial, emotional or physical hardship is really traumatic at Christmas when you have family and friends around, however what does it look like when you are alone?
And that is where I have found even more of the immense kindness here in our community via two beautiful people who put their hands up to co-host with me a Christmas Day luncheon when we found out there was not one being held in our electorate this year. Gratitude to Jude from Making Lives Matter and Tony Crossin from NoosaChef, along with 30 or so extraordinary elves, who will be prepping, cooking up and serving a storm to share on the day! As well to Matt from the Salvation Army who have lent us their venue, and to the many who have come forth with acts, and donations of kindness. How incredible you all are, and how blessed we are to live in a community such as ours. It is times like this I am almost speechless, and for all that know me, that is a rarity!
So, to all who are part of this never ending, nourishing and most important role every one of us can play, I finish with a quote from Margaret Mead whom I have shared with you previously.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has’.
Margaret, I am just going to amend it slightly, hopefully without contravening copyright or any other law that will get me into trouble, by inserting the word ‘kind’ between ‘thoughtful’ and ‘committed’. I have no doubt if you were still with us, you would wholeheartedly agree.
Merry Christmas fellow Noosans, Noosaites, or Noosa electorate residents, whichever you prefer, however, I still love Noosans
