Kindness Rocks!!

I am happy to inform you that I have a kindness story.

Shortly after the pulse event I was driving to Buckley Bay to catch the next boat back to Hornby Island. My truck had been acting up the past couple days and the belt that was "supposed" to be fixed wasn't holding out.

I pulled into a gas station and found I didn't have the tools for the job. I went and asked the cashier if there where any tools I could use. She replied "I have the socket you need but you'll have to give me something as collateral." I had no jewelery,or cash in my pocket but I did have a rock.

I explained to her about paying it forward. She smiled and lent me the socket then I returned home safe and sound.

(The rock used for collateral was one given to the story teller at a booth by a pay it forward Comox Valley volunteer. She was handing out rocks with kindness written on them to promote the project).

A New Hobby

I’ve got a new hobby. Since I was a Volunteer for the project “Pay it forward” with Comox ValleyLinks, where I had to collect kindness stories, I’ve had, as a hobby, collecting kindness stories. So today I was practicing my new hobby; asking people to tell me about their kindness story. First I asked my sister. It’s nice because now when I ask her, she knows what to answer. Before, she would always be looking for an amazing story that everyone could remember. I feel that she now notices more the unobtrusive kind acts of her everyday life. So she told me about her friend who helped her with a school project she was having a hard time with.

I asked Julia, a friend of mine who I met in a youth camp about three years ago and with whom I still talk sometimes. She told me about a colleague with whom she switches shifts when her work doesn’t match her busy schedule. She also told me about a friend who gives her drives when she really needs it; to go to the groceries for an example.

Next I asked Franck, a good friend of mine who I didn’t see for a while and he told me that his whole family brought his mom to the restaurant, without her knowing about it, for her 50th birthday. Than Jonathan, who I was on committees with in high school, told me a very cool story. At the restaurant where he worked, the same couple would come back every year, at Christmas Eve, to share a good dinner together. At the end of their meal they would choose another couple that they didn’t know in the restaurant and would pay for their dinner. They wouldn’t say it was from them. The only other thing they would do would be to write Merry Christmas on their bill.

Finally I asked an old family friend if he would have a kindness story to share. He answered by saying that people weren’t being very nice to him these days. That they would call him name and laugh at him. I told him, joking, that life was being very good for him these days. Than I told him it wasn’t cool and just by sending him a heart symbol from the internet, I sent him kindness. I added that my whole family really thinks he rocks. We decided we would soon go for a mini putt game with my brother and sister, just like we did last summer. And we just kept talking. I didn’t do that because I had pity of him. I did it because I honestly think he’s great and that I consider him a friend even if we don’t see each other very often. I guess he felt the trust I had in him and before I left, he told me he had a kindness story. He told me it was me. He said I was pretty good at bringing kindness in people’s day. That was very nice of him.
I also have a kindness story. Today, I’ve been told I was kind, by someone I have a lot of respect for.
Mj

Kindness is Global

Saturday - I Pedaled very, very slowly into El Salvador. About an hour into the ride, I stopped and asked a woman for some clarification on the roads I was meaning to take. She gave me the directions I needed, and than asked if Id like some water. I said yes. As we walked to her house near by, I was offered fruit. And then bread with a yogurt filling. These things were brought out to me by her son. I ate all very happily... as I hadn’t found breakfast yet that morning.I was then offered a shower. Being on my third day of crazy sweating while riding for hours in the sun, I definitely said yes.

They helped me bring my very heavy bike inside and gave me a towel. I showered. Wow, it felt really weird and awesome to be clean. I even rinsed out some of my clothing. After I showered, she offered to wash some of my clothes. I couldn’t bear to do that, they stunk so badly. (Maybe that’s why she offered) so I said no. Her son tried to track down a map of El Salvador for me by calling one of his friends, but it didn’t work out. As I was leaving, she gave me a big bag of mangos for later on in the day (they lasted me 3 days) and freaking US$5 which lasted me 2 days. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name, I should have. Ill be going back to visit her on my way back through El Salvador.

So, later that day, after buying an El Salvador tourist map I stopped for a break in a small town to change over my tire, which was progressively getting worse. A couple of people off the street (which turned out to be very awesomely bike savvy) helped me out, and the process of stripping down the gear off of my bike, wrestling with my overly large/heavy/burly rear rack, putting my decent front tire on the rear, putting the cheaply tire on the front, and getting it all back together took only half an hour. As I was loading the stuff back on to my bike an elderly woman (whom I guess had overheard the details of my epic adventure as I was talking to the people who were helping me with my bike) came out and asked if I was hungry. I said... Yes! She invited me inside, and her and her husband sat me down at a table where a very very tasty looking beautiful lunch had been laid out for me. I ate until my stomach hurt. Wow... food was so good. I still can’t really believe that two things like that happened in one day. And I wasn’t even staying the night! Her name is Edna Torres, from Turin, Ahuachapán, El Salvador.

I thanked these people so much, what an awesome experience to have while riding by yourself for a first time through a foreign country. That night, I found a guard shack that was watching over a horse ranch... or rather, they found me. I was wandering around with my bike looking for a quiet place to camp when a guy wandered up to me, with a shotgun in hand. He asked me what I was up to; I told him I was looking for a place to sleep. He offered me a bunk in his cabin with him and his son.I said... Sure!! It was awesome, apart from the bugs in my bed that were biting me all night. There was also one of the most violent storms I’ve ever witnessed that night... they lasted all night. I was happy to be inside.

My time is running out for today, but there 2 important things were said to me before I left on this trip, and I want to repeat them: Never give up and stop, and Never refuse help that is being given to you along the way.

I have refused help; someone offered me a ride in a car. And there was the clothes washing thing. But this trip has been so challenging and difficult at times, from all the heat and bugs and things... El Salvador has proven to be one of my favorite countries. I’ve had continuous amazing experiences with people being incredibly generous and welcoming, wherever I’ve gone.
I’ve had several experiences of people calling me into their houses off of the street, providing me with food, often showers... and on one occasion... money! It was $5US, but that bought my food for 2 days down here. I’ve also been sleeping for free, as I’ve found many safe places and homes to sleep with the tent that I bought. My life has definitely taken a big sharp turn - and I love every second of it.

........Tyler Walker, on his bike trip through South America.