The Yellow Shovel

My favourite feel goods these days are the articles, videos and posts on random acts of kindness. I feel rather blessed this week (and its only Tuesday) that I have had many come my way.

I'm sitting editing marketing pieces this afternoon when this young dude comes a knockin' on my door. As he is standing on the steps with the greatest grin ever, he says,
" Would you like me to shovel your driveway?"

Wait ... back up ...

I'm going to interject with my story telling and give you some background ...I had literally just driven up the drive this afternoon thinking, oh man, I should have done the driveway before it all go hard and crusty. Not only that, someone left the gate open which is now "snowed open" because the side wasn't shoveled the last snow fall. I also remind myself how much I hate shoveling. No kids home until the weekend...ugh. The other thing it reminded me of is that I really don't like winter, we just don't get along. I should have been born on a tropical island somewhere. Give me sand any day.

Then ... little dude shows up.

Not only is he asking to shovel the driveway but he's HAPPY about it. I think I was a little taken aback. So ... I bite ... how much I ask? He beams again and says, "For FREE!" The only thing I could respond was "REALLY?????" (insert shock and disbelief) "Yup FREE!!!" I told him that I thought that he was a remarkable kid to be offering such a generous Random Act Of Kindess, RAOK. The thing was, he truly was excited about it. He brought his ice hacker, thingy madoodley and a yellow shovel. He said that because he brought both he would make sure that there were no icy spots left either. SO IMPRESSED right at this moment. He will be a great husband to some lucky lady one day. I hope I find one like that some day ... LOL.

Off he went to work, and literally got it right down to the concrete. I kept thinking that not only is he a great kid, meant for great things, but his parents must be pretty fantastic too, or whoever is raising little dude. This guy has it right. He wanted to do something nice and well he is saving up for something special he said. (I did give him some appreciation cash, as I was so thankful that he had done the driveway)

I asked him what he wanted to buy.

"A bag of salt and my own shovel."

A bag of salt and his own shovel. The AWWWWW and adorability factor went through the roof at this point. Then I asked him why.

"Well,' he said," if I had a bag of salt I could make sure that you didn't have any ice on your driveway and well, I would like my own shovel. I borrowed this from my neighbor so that I could do this."

A bag of salt and a shovel.

I was so impressed with this little dude. There are big things in that kid's future ... and the biggest reason is that he is full of light. Spreading kindness like that, not everyone can be as generous with their time, or of themselves. I myself try to do these same things because I love to see how wonderful it makes people feel, even if it is for just a fleeting moment. He made my day.

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