HEALTH, WEALTH & COMMUNITY
I Acts of Kindness
have been the fortunate recipient of many acts of kindness, some large, some small, Peculiarly, it is the small acts of generosity that I remember most. The simple word or deed that acts as a balm when one is feeling bruised. In case I have already lost my reader, no, this is not going to be a sticky, over-sentimental piece of gooey writing, just a small thank you to those who have made my way in life less troubled. A belated breadand-butter note that my parents urged me to write, to acknowledge birthday and Christmas presents, which I sometimes wrote and sometimes “forgot”. Previously, I have mentioned my infantile eczema, which I am still waiting, with growing impatience, to outgrow. This was diagnosed by my infant school classmates as leprosy. Bless the little boy who whispered in my ear that he did not think my leprosy was that bad. Yet, even today, I think that inside this apparently confident clown is a small girl with leprosy struggling to get out. Whilst my mother was ill with TB, my brother and I were looked after by a series of housekeepers, some of whom would not have gained Dr Spock's approval. A diet of egg and chips does pall after several weeks, and I was so grateful to the bakery lady who would call me in and give me a lardy bun. This was a real treat, being a large bread bun with dried fruit enclosed, and in this case, topped with white icing. Heaven! Have one ready for my last meal! The schoolteacher who introduced me to literacy, on noticing my distress when asked to practise what was termed, “running writing”, enquired what was wrong. I damply explained that I did not know how to “running write” or what it was. “Oh, Elaine, then just print.” Magical words! The sun could shine again!
Arrival By: Elaine Lutton
24
www.thebribieislander.com.au
The Bribie Islander
The kindness of friends shown in small acts, holding my hand whilst skipping, the innumerable acts of kindness shown throughout the years by my friends from school years and those who became friends when establishing my new life in Australia. Friends I have had for years and have stood by me in good times and in bad. The group of friends whom I would meet for coffee and who would make me laugh, giving me the therapy, I needed most when I was still raw from the loss of my husband, the gentle phone enquiry by another friend asking if I was OK when I failed to turn up to his morning tea. I had got the days confused. Another friend, noticing that I was looking less than
my usual cheerful self, took the time to show me videos of ABBA reunited and made me laugh. The lift I got to a doctor from someone who did not really know me well, another friend who drove me to Morayfield, making sure I had my full complement of “jabs”. Too far for even my willing friend Ferrari, although he always does his uncomplaining best. I shall refrain from mentioning individuals in this article as it would become a long list of names and deeds and for fear, I should omit someone and perhaps cause offence. However, the kindness I have received over the years is not forgotten, nor the people associated with them. My husband was a very gentle and kind man, a happy relationship is not made up of grand gestures, but rather of small acts of consideration and kindness. A little humour can always oil the wheels. Why is it that some people are naturally kind; is it Nature or Nurture? Both, I suspect. Recently, I have had to stay with me, for a week, my cousin's son and his family, consisting of his wife and three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. I observed the family group as a kind of social experiment, and I must say that, from my perspective, they got full marks. Three-year-old’s do not find it easy to be tolerant when their carefully set-up games are interfered with by younger brothers, who either want to take over or adopt a bull-in-achina-shop approach. Calmly, her parents exhorted her to share her toys. Share was a word often used. Gradually the concept was mastered, and due praise given when she was seen to share her Zooper-dooper, frozen ice block, with her brother. The lesson was unexpectedly reinforced when she had attempted to win a chocolate bar from a machine to no avail. A little girl, no more than 7 years or eight, who had observed her disappointment, took her turn next and won two bars of chocolate, one of which, with a big smile and unprompted by any adult, she gave to our three-year-old. Kindness from a stranger. Kindness is contagious, the more acts of kindness one receives, the easier it becomes to pass on the “infection”. I hope that I manage to pass on all the kindness “bacteria” that I have received from so many over the years; a grateful thank you to all who have infected me. I am aware that this article is a little different to my usual, not too preachy, I trust. I promise to return to comedy next fortnight.
