View From the Legislature

In the fall of 2022, researchers in the United States conducted an in-depth study about the impact of random acts of kindness. The results, which where published and written about in the New York Times, showed that small gestures of kindness, which could take the form of kind comments or small monetary gifts, were incredibly impactful on those who received them. Conversely, those who offered up the acts of kindness routinely underestimated the positive effect that they would have on the recipient.

Overwhelmingly, in experiment after experiment, people tended to think that a small act of kindness was relatively inconsequential compared to the actual response of the person who received it. This of course has practical implications all year long but is felt most acutely at Christmas. It is at this time of the year that people are the most generous both with their words and their giving. A simple “hello” is often replaced with a hearty “Merry Christmas!” Get togethers and gift exchanges are part of the season and charitable giving peaks during December.

Those facts combined with the research explain perhaps why it is often called the happiest time of the year.

And yet, it can also be a time of mental stress and pain. Sometimes that is because of the loss of a loved one whose absence is especially felt at Christmas. Maybe it is because we often reflect on the state of the world or our own personal lives at this time of the year. Inflation and high interest rates have caused personal hardship for many this year and continued conflicts around the world have resulted in division right here in Canada as well. Sometimes both our personal circumstances and the challenges of the world seem so immense that they overwhelm us to the point where it leaves us feeling powerless.

And yet, as studies show, we have incredible power to positively impact the world around us. With kind words and small gestures of appreciation we can touch the lives of those closest to us beyond what we believe possible. When multiplied by others, these small gestures move from an impactful ripple to a wave.

The story of Christmas itself speaks of kind gestures. One of the most repeated is the story of the innkeeper who, despite having no room for Joseph and Mary, offered what he had, the stable. And yet, there were probably many undocumented acts of kindness offered to Mary, a young pregnant woman, on the journey to Bethlehem. The reality is that almost all acts of kindness go undocumented in the records of history but no doubt they have shaped history in ways we cannot fathom.

Which brings us to this Christmas. Whether you are having a Christmas filled with joy and blessings, or whether this Christmas finds you overwhelmed, sad and feeling helpless, you have the ability to impact the community around you. There are many challenges, whether economic or global conflicts, that are beyond our control. But we control the ability to positively impact those who we meet. Random acts of kindness and gestures are within your power to give and overwhelmingly they will positively impact the recipient beyond your expectation.

The story of Christmas and the life of Jesus are filled with examples of kindness and peace. And while this is a spirit that seems most prevalent at this wonderful time of the year, the challenge is to practice it everyday. Christmas reminds us of the power of kindness. And it falls to us to carry that spirit throughout the year.

Together with my wife Kim and my son Malachi, we wish you a blessed Christmas.