16 - Thank You for Being Kind

Be Kind are two simple words with a huge impact. Positive feedback is a form of kindness that builds self-esteem, provides encouragement and can even be a way of showing love or friendship. In today's episode I share some recent moments where people showed their appreciation to me, and how it made me feel.  With shared stories of kind actions, I bring to light that we should let people know we appreciate them when we can, before that opportunity is no longer in front of us.  

Thanks for listening!  This is a hobby podcast, with a positive vibe. No legal or medical advice is provided in this podcast, it's recorded for entertainment purposes only.  No cooking advice either - some things are best left for the professionals.  Have a great day! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Hi everyone, it's Lindy here. Welcome back to the podcast. Uh, thank you so much for tuning in today. Uh, I'm just recording this from my little home-based studio right here on beautiful Vancouver Island in Western Canada. I'm doing this for fun. It's a creative outlet for me. I'm not here to give advice. You probably need more advice than I could give. And I'm not gonna get into politics on the show. There's there's many other platforms out there that cover this and do this, but my little podcast is not about that. No, it's just a hobby for me. I'm a peaceful person. I try to focus on positive and thought-provoking reflections. That's what this is all about for me. Um, I want to start out with a big thank you to a few people who reached out to me last week, both privately and on social media. Uh, and it had to do with my last episode. Okay, my last episode was titled Fair is Not Always Equitable. And I've had some really, really positive feedback on it. And I can't tell you how much that made my day. Now, I don't record this to get a pat on the back, and but you know, sometimes after I've recorded an episode, it's been up a few days and take a look at the numbers, I go, hmm, I wonder who it is who's listening to this. Uh recently somebody posted that my podcast was a positive start to her day and how she found it was really helpful during chaotic times. And yeah, I really appreciated that. Then yesterday, I'm listening to a podcast by Lindsay Williams. She's over in the UK, and she's got a podcast called Manifesting Through Motherhood. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard this come up on her podcast.

SPEAKER_00 2:13

And this podcast today, I kind of switched it up a little bit because I was inspired by listening to the lovely Linda from the podcast Grey Roots and Chicken Boots. I always love listening to Linda's podcast. She humbles me so much. She makes me feel from even though she's over in Yukon, I feel like it's all home from home. And I know if we were local to each other, we would probably see each other all the time. And I would love to meet Linda in person one day. She has been on the podcast. I'm actually going to get her back on the podcast. Just see where she's up to because it's really nice looking at different perspectives in life and you know, looking at age and where people are at. And she really brings me back down to where Thank you so much, Lindsay.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

That just totally made my day. Uh yeah, it's just so nice when you get positive feedback like that. Um, I'm a people person. I always have been. And it was challenging for me for many years when I sometimes had to work in roles where I wasn't around people, more behind the scenes. And that was hard for me because I like to be around people. And by being a people person, I mean I'm a person who enjoys social contact. But you know, there are limits for me, and I still don't like to be in a crowd if I feel like I don't fit in. And it's amazing how being around the right people for your vibe can make a difference. Having the right people in your corner is huge. Each day is a blessing. Every day that we can wake up, have a roof over our heads, food on the table, family at our table, friends at our table. It's really a blessing. And my gosh, it's so easy to take things for granted. We get complacent. Uh, gratitude is so important, and often when we stop and look around, we realize we are taking things for granted, and we shouldn't. I had to go to the hospital for some tests this past week. Not a big deal, just that's where we go to do some of our testing, and it was kind of hard to find a parking spot that day. Oh, I circled that parking lot multiple times, and eventually I ended up at the most farthest away spot at the top of a multi-layer parkade. I could see the annoyance on the face of some of the other drivers, you know, there's a few of us driving around and round and round. And a few times people cut in front of me to take a parking space, and it was clear I'd been circling way longer than them and waiting to turn in on my side. And it didn't really bother me. I kind of like, okay, you you rotten person, look at you. You could see that was my spot, and you just cut in front of me. And you know, you could get worked up, you could get mad, but I didn't. The way I looked at it, well, maybe that person had a more serious issue than me. Maybe they really needed that spot and needed to get in there. So you know what I ended up at the parking spot farthest away on the top level? I just shrugged and went, oh whatever, it's no big deal. They have elevators, so no matter what, I would have the same walking distance. Sure, minor inconvenience. But guess what? A minor inconvenience, the results of having a large blessing. Yep, see I've got healthcare where I live, and that is a blessing. Not everyone has this. So instead of getting worked up because somebody cut me off twice in ten minutes, I stopped and looked at the positives. We all have different abilities, different skill sets, different opportunities, different lives. We all make mistakes. Yeah, because we're all human. I recorded over 128 episodes in my last podcast series. Then I pulled the plug on it in January of 2025. When I stopped that podcast series, my goodness, I felt like I'd lost an old friend. There were so many episodes that I did, and I can listen to them and feel like they were really great episodes. I had guests from all walks of life join me on that show, and on every episode I did my best to keep it positive, just focused on positive topics. I also pulled some of my original episodes lately, and I'm like, oh my goodness, I'm not sure if I should cringe, if I should laugh, or if I should hide under a rock. Oh yeah, some of them are kind of zany. But I remind myself it was early stages and I was still learning. Yeah, definitely. We all start somewhere. Uh and I started that show during COVID. I had time on my hands, we weren't going anywhere. At first, I took it to heart when family members weren't listening, but I learned later on that most podcasters will tell you their families don't listen. Looking back, did it really matter? If my family members want to listen to me, they're gonna pick up the phone and call me. They got busy lives. Some of them aren't tech savvy, and for others, it's just not their thing. I get it. Well, at least now I do. I had to put into perspective what I was trying to do, and it was never about numbers or being famous or getting rich. No, not at all. And months after I pulled my podcast, I had people coming and telling me, hey, I really miss listening to you. I didn't even know they were listening. Sometimes in life we do things, we just go about our daily routines, but we don't always know if what we're doing matters until we stop doing it. Positive feedback can go such a long way. In any place. At work, at home, with friends, with neighbors. Yeah, it's amazing how a compliment can really go a long way. I did an episode about giving compliments in my previous series and the benefits to everyone when kind words are said. It's so true. I I might even bring that episode back some time and replay it on this series. I'll see if I can dig it up. Uh I helped my partner with something the other day, and it was out of my comfort zone, and I was standing up for what was right alongside with him. Uh we were riding in the car after and he put his hand on mine while we were driving, and he thanked me for what I did. It was out of the blue. Not me standing there with my hands on my hips, giving that look that says, Well, you gonna thank me for this? No, not at all. It was genuine, his hand on mine, and the warmth of that gesture with the words thank you said so much more in two simple words and a moment of kindness. I knew that I'd made a difference, and that it was appreciated. People often joke around that Canadians are known for their manners, for saying sorry and please and thank you. I try to be polite. I was at a local store the other day and a young guy was buying things ahead of me. I'm guessing he's around, I don't know, sixteen, seventeen years old. He was super polite. And the person at the till was also quite young, in her mid twenties, I would say. She asked me if he wanted a bag, and he replied, No, thank you. She asked if he'd like the receipt in the bag, and he replied, Yes, please. She handed him the bag and said, Thanks for coming in today. I was jaw dropped. I just don't see that anymore. As the young gentleman was starting to pick up the bag, I said, Hey, thanks for being so polite. This is so refreshing to see this, really. Like I appreciate it. I looked up, and a few people in the line behind me were smiling and nodding. Young customer perked right up. Yeah, he said, people just don't do it anymore. Like holding doors open. I always hold doors open, he replied. I smiled, because so do I. You're right, I said to him, I'm almost sixty, and that's how we were raised. Then the young girl at the counter said, You don't even look close to sixty. So we all laughed. And it was just such a great, great moment. You know, when that young guy left, he looked over his shoulder and he gave me a big grin. So I, you know, I really hope my words made his day also. So after that, the lady at the till asked me, she was, hey, how old do you think I am? I chuckled and I said, Gosh, nowadays it can be really so hard to tell. If I get twenty six, am I close? She smiled and told me she was twenty seven. She said she still gets asked for ID in the bar. And then I laughed, and I told her that I was asked for ID in a bar in Palm Springs many, many years ago. I got all excited and thought it was because they thought I looked young. And then I read the sign on the wall that said, If you use your credit card, you need ID. So much for that one. Okay, they didn't ask for my ID because they thought I was young. Silly me. We both laughed and the conversation happened while she processed my items. We didn't hold up the line behind us, and as I turned to leave, of course I said thank you. And on the way out I stopped and held the door for a group of people coming in. As they came in the door, a gentleman said, Wow, thanks, people just don't do this anymore. It was like a scene that had been scripted. I just had this conversation. My reply? Hey, I'm Canadian, eh? They laughed. As I mentioned earlier, it used to be said that Canadians are polite. I may be just a small pee in that pod, but you know what, every bit counts. I go back to what happened this week when a couple of people commented on my podcast. Just a few words brought out kindness that had a huge impact on my day. Of course there's the old saying that actions speak louder than words. You can tell someone you appreciate them a million times, but if you don't treat them fairly or kindly, or you take that person for granted, then those words are futile. Those words will be said and not heard, or heard and not felt. I often look back on my friend's parents who provided so much kindness to me when I was growing up. See, our family didn't have a car, and many of my friends' parents invited me to come on camping trips with their families. I'm sure having me along may provided entertainment for their child, but it also gave me opportunities I might not have had otherwise. I ate a lot of meals at friends' houses, especially when I was invited to sleepovers. No matter, you know, I guess no matter what, that always was happened, no different than when my mom allowed me to invite kids to come home. But really, there are people who made a difference in my life. I can think of so many people who did things for me and I didn't get a chance to thank them before they left this world. I'm sure I said thank you at the time, but you know, as an adult, I'd love to go back. I'd love to tell those people that it's more than just thank you. They made a difference in my life, and I appreciated it. I think it'd Dot, who always made us grilled cheese sandwiches after school. My mum was concerned I ate there too much and she didn't want me to take advantage of it. So I would go over there and I'd say no thank you when I was offered a sandwich because I was worried about accepting too much. But Dot always insisted that she'd made too much and still put that plate in front of me. I think a Christie, who put up with my shenanigans, invited me to share in a festive Ukrainian meal at her home. And all the times she overlooked our teenage moments. She never judged me, even during times when I had a few teenage struggles. She trusted me to stay in her home when they were away, and that's a pretty big deal. Anytime I eat a hand sandwich now, like a nice ham sandwich on soft bread with lettuce and cheese and mayo. I think of a family friend named Donna. When I was seven, my mom had to fly back east to deal with a family crisis. We stayed with a family who treated us like family. Today, one of my sisters and I will still reminisce and say that we will never forget those sandwiches that Donna made for us. Oh yeah, that bread was so good. But the kindness behind it was even better. I think of Barb, a lady who was like my second mom when I was in elementary school years. Along with my mom, these two ladies brought two families together. And even though we weren't related by blood, we were family. I remember one day and I was riding in the car with Barb, and um her son and I went to kindergarten together, and there was another young gal that she babysat as well, and then uh there was a little young girl who was a toddler at the time. So we were all riding in the car one day in the backseat, and I remember I peed my pants. I think I was around five years old. I was riding in that car with all my friends from kindergarten, and oh my gosh, it was so embarrassing. I'll never forget it. I mean it was an accident. She knew I was really embarrassed about it, and she quietly helped me remove those wet red leotards when we got back to her house, and she loaned me a pair of her son's long johns till I could get home. I didn't want the other kids to know I'd had this accident, and she protected my dignity, a small gesture that went a long way. Barb gave us rides so many times so that all of us kids could get together even when they moved to a new neighborhood, and yeah, I will always appreciate the many things she did when we were growing up. I think of a pastor's wife who gave me rides home from a little youth group, and it was even in forty below weather, okay? This was between grades one and three. Most of my friends were going to this little community group, and it was on Wednesdays after school. Now we did crafts, we sang songs, we learned about kindness and respect for nature. It was a Christian group, but they welcomed anybody from any faith. And it was a place where everybody belonged. There was no pressure to join their faith. We didn't even belong to her church. She was just trying to help a bunch of kids in the neighborhood have an opportunity to belong to a community group. And yeah, it was pretty nice, but I remember that pastor's wife when it was forty below and sometimes it was a little too cold for us to be walking. If I didn't have a ride, she'd give me a ride home. Think of my brother in law who became part of my life when I was nine years old. He often fixed my bikes, he taught me how to salmon fish, yeah, using those little row bags made from pantyhose. He was the male figure in my life, as I had it into teenage years, and sadly he passed away at a young age. My other brother in law, who loaned me his truck the day I got my driver's license, that little Dodge truck, and to this day he's always there for family near and far. He's a quiet guy, but he shows his love for others through his actions. My sisters, and each one of them has done so much for me, each one in a different way. See, when you're the youngest, you rely on your big sisters or your older siblings, and believe me, they really did have my back when we were kids. Now of course there is my mum, and to this day I always wish I could go back and tell her how much I appreciated what she did for me growing up. See, I never really understood what my mum went through until I was an adult. Yeah, I think that's kind of typical, and uh I didn't understand her parenting style till I became a parent. See, she wasn't just my mum. She was mum to four of us. She was also a lady. A mum, a sister, a daughter, an auntie, a real human who had feelings, a real human who made mistakes, a real human who loved and showed so much compassion for people around her, a lady who deserved to be loved. I try not to use the word regret, because we're all human, and of course the road doesn't travel backwards, but reality is if I had the opportunity to tell so many people who made a difference in my life that they really did make a difference, and I still appreciate them to this day, I would. So many people that I spoke of are no longer with us. Some passed on at a young age, others were older, some were unexpected, others gave notice through illness, but it still took years to digest. A few people I spoke of are still here, and it's reminding me that I need to connect and say those thank yous and let those people know that their actions really mattered to me. It's kind of like my partner, you know, putting his hand on mine the other day in the car and just saying thank you out of the blue. That small action that really made a difference in my day. To those of you who took the time to reach out to me privately through messages and through another podcast even, thank you. Honestly, those words inspired me more than you can realize. I don't put a lot of time into social media or promoting this podcast because it is a hobby, and I don't have the time to do that, and physically I can't spend a lot of hours on my computer. Uh my hands are a little bit pooched these days, and I'm limited to how much time I do on a keyboard. Uh, but it does matter to me that I know that what I'm doing matters to someone else. It was shortly after I canceled my last series that I had a gentleman that reached out and said that he used to listen to me on night shifts when he was driving to work because my podcast episodes helped him feel grounded and calm. And it wasn't until I had quit doing the podcast series that I actually knew he was listening to it. So it's kind of neat sometimes when you do hear about it. And again, it's not about getting a pat on the back. It's just knowing that if you're putting effort into something, that it really does matter to someone. And I'm sure many of you who are listening really do a lot of kind things for people. And not because you're looking for someone to pat you on the back, but simply because you want to do something kind. But I'm gonna ask this though. Does it matter to you if somebody does say thank you? Do you care if your actions are acknowledged? If you're steadfast and constant with your contributions and no one acknowledges it, are you left wondering, hmm, did my actions really even make a difference? You know, here's an interesting story. I can't I put a positive comment on the social media of a young group of musicians. And it's a case where this young group formed a band and oh, they had thousands and thousands of followers. Well, change happened. Yeah, some of the band members moved on to another band, and now there's two group pages to follow. Hey, I liked all the band members, the ones who moved on and the ones who stayed. And now there's new band members, and I like them also. Yeah. Um, I just like to see young people doing things that allow them to share their creative talents. They're making a positive contribution to society through their entertainment. I see people online making comparisons or shooting negative comments, and all I want to do is just make positive comments for both groups. Hey, these groups, these are kids. These are people with feelings. This is a time in their lives when the most important lesson should be about kindness. Just like sports, there's always gonna be some kids who have different talents, parents with different expectations, and some kids who have different personal goals. But for some people, the joy in music disappears if there's too much pressure. Everyone's different. I think the best thing we can do as onlookers is simply help them celebrate their positive moments. It takes so much courage to perform in front of people, and it takes no courage at all to knock someone down. I like to stay positive, and I hope that maybe one day my compliment or my positive comment will bring a smile to someone's face. Wow, this was quite a chat about a lot of different things, but really what it comes down to is that positive feedback really can go a long way. Sometimes when we don't do it, and then it's too late, that chance isn't there. Yeah, older, wiser, if I could go back and tell most of those people I talked about what they did made a difference in my life, then I would. But I can't, because they're no longer with us, and I still have that opportunity to share those thoughts with people who are still with us. Even better, maybe I can do something kind and through actions and not just words, show my appreciation. What a concept that is. Okay, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Okay, I really better get going here. The sun's shining. I smell like a eucalyptus factory with all that ointment for joints I have on today, but I'm still gonna go outside and do some yard work. Oh, did I just say eucalyptus factory? Ha! How did I come up with that? Good gosh. Sometimes I don't know how I come up with these things. Okay, let's just say that I smell like someone that's got a lot of arthritis meds on her joints, and I need to get outside and get some fresh air. But before I go, a quick note, okay. If you're listening to my podcast and you're on a podcast app like Apple or Spotify or any other platform, uh if you find a place there where you can give a positive review, I would really appreciate it. Um, you can also send me a short text, it's through the link in my show notes. Um, I can't reply on it though, because unfortunately, the way that my hosting provider has it set up, we can only uh get the one way messaging in. Um but if you do see that link and you want to send a note, I'll be able to read it. And I might even share your feedback in a following episode. Alright, that's it. Gotta go. Have a great week, everyone. Be kind. Remember, even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact on someone, even if it's just a case of saying please and Thank you, or acknowledging that what someone did for you really matters. Oh, and also remember what I always say when I end my podcast episodes. Smiles come in all languages and in all colors. All right, have a great day, everyone. Take care.