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The year seems to be racing along and we come to the end of February. Christmas seems like a distant memory. I was somewhat cautious about how the 2020 Christmas period was going to go after the year that 2020 had been. Lockdowns, remote learning, shopping chaos, increasing isolation of all and in particular, the worry for our elderly. 

Well Christmas wasn’t normal, but was it worse? I don’t think so. And I say that because we could all sense that this Christmas meant so much more to us all. We had the initial panic of the unknown as the virus took lives and left many sick and seemed to be unchecked, to the relative calm of a covid case every now and then or a small outbreak within a region or group. We eased past the remote learning into a time of relative control and Christmas was a true Godsend, where we could gather with family and loved ones. 

There was one particular aspect that struck me that I would like to dwell on. As a result of the turmoil through the year there has been a growth in people caring for each other. People were showing genuine kindness and care to others. While visiting my daughter in Lennox Head, I read of a story where an anonymous person paid off all lay-by balances at a large toy store in the Gold Coast. Totalling almost $16,000. While another person in Gympie did the same. 

The motivation was to make a positive difference to the Christmas that children would experience. To take away the feelings of the fear of covid and improving the Christmas experience. The positive impact of this gesture impacted over 100 families and who knows how many children. 

There is now a move for community care (kindness) groups that are popping up all over the world to assist others - with a meal, or spending time with others to enrich their lives a little, or to do whatever it takes to help people feel better and more optimistic. 

But here’s a thought. What if we were kind to unkind people..those who don’t know the joy of helping others..those who see the negative or only want to take an advantage. What would our world look like then?

As we move through 2021 John Therry will have a focus on kindness, of looking after each other, of standing for those who cannot stand for themselves. And those that struggle to fit in, or make friends, or to feel good about themselves. 

If we all do a little then we can make a massive difference.