Just what we need - another survey to tell us how we act, how we spend, who we love, how many pills we take... I’m sure I grimace each time I see another survey in my In Box.
But this one was made just for us.
Did you know that Apr. 13-21 is Good Turn Week? Neither did I.
And Scouts Canada is challenging Canadians to do a Simple Act of Kindness during Good Turn Week.
Not one of the more highly scientific surveys that I’ve read, it’s results are still thought-provoking. One thousand Canadians were surveyed in February and 51 per cent said that they were the recipient of a good turn at least once a month, while 28 per cent said they have a good turn performed for them twice a week or more. Lucky devils!
Forty-one per cent of young adults surveyed, aged 18-24, said that they do a good turn every day.
I don’t think anyone needs to question whether good deeds are done in our communities all the time. But perhaps we should ask ourselves if we’re doing enough.
We all have good neighbours and friends who need a hand from time to time. If they aren’t getting that help, then we’re not giving enough.
Maybe we meant to, but we didn’t have the time. Or we forgot. Or we hoped that someone else would take care of it.
Let’s use Good Turn Week to practice our Good Deed skills. Make a list, if you have to, of the good deeds that you can do for the people around you.
Write to us at The Journal if someone does a good deed for you, or if you see a good deed being done. Sometimes we need to see others around us doing good things before we try it ourselves.
If you want to know the secret, it’s not all about giving. It’s about getting, too. You get to feel that tingly sense of having helped, having contributed, having done something good and positiv. Yes, it feels good.
So be careful - it’s addictive. Once you start, you might not be able to stop. But that’s a good thing.
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal