Week Forty Three: Leaving a Pumpkin at Someone's Doorstep for Halloween.

I remember one of the rituals I enjoyed the most about Halloween growing up was carving a pumpkin. To this day, I still do enjoy it greatly. The carving, the smell, cooking the seeds, etc. I wanted to offer that experience to someone else. I was walking through the neighbourhood this week and I noticed there were plenty of houses lacking of pumpkins on their porches. So I went and bought one and left it at a pumpkin-less house with a note. I hope this enhanced their Halloween experience!

Instagram: @geneseguin. #k4kproject

Special thanks to Marianne who gave me this wonderful idea!  

G.

k4k Contributors!

Lately, some fellow friends have been reaching out, wishing to participate in any way they can in this project of mine. These messages encouraged me greatly, so about a week ago, I made a call out to anyone interested in contributing - to further expand this ripple effect of kindness spreading. I asked them to send me a picture of their good deeds so I could share them with everyone. Every time I will get a new picture, I will update this post! All photos can be found on my Instagram: @geneseguin. #k4kcontributors

So here they are - their inspiring stories: 

1) Véronique - Bringing Food to a Soup Kitchen.

Submitted by Véronique, an old University classmate. 

Véronique selflessly brought carrots over to her neighbourhood's soup kitchen in Hull this week to help those who are less fortunate. Véro will also be doing some volunteering at this location. She is the definition of a good samaritan. 

Photo sent by Véronique. #k4kcontributors

2) Marianne - Helping Out a Stranded Stranger. 

Submitted by Marianne, my brother’s girlfriend. 

Marianne was coming back from visiting her sister late one night and noticed this gentleman stuck on the side of the road. The man had run out of gas and didn't own a cell phone, so Marianne decided to drive back to her sister's place to get a canister of gas to help the poor man out. About 40 minutes later, the man's gas tank was filled with enough gas for him to get home safely. He offered money to thank her but she had a feeling he probably didn't have much to spare. Instead, she asked that he pay it forward. 

Funney enough, the man told her that earlier that day, he had seen a post on Kijiji from a woman in the area who had lost a ring for which she held a high sentimental value. He happened to have a metal detector so he set out to help her. After a lenghty search, the man found the ring and contacted the distressed woman in order to give it back to who it belonged. A classic tale of what goes around comes around.   

Photos sent by Marianne. #k4kcontributors

3) Maxime - Heartfelt Homemade Cards to Coworkers.

Submitted by Maxime, a friend!

Maxime decided to write up some homemade card and distribute them to her coworkers as a sign of appreciation of the work they do.  

Regram from Maxime. @maxnicholas333 #k4kcontributors

Maxime will be joining me in my project and doing one act of kindness per week starting in November until the end of the year! 

I mean, how much more awesome can one get?

Week Forty Two: Giving Directions to a Stranger.

This week’s gesture is small and common, but a very helpful one. As I was rushing on my way to work one morning, a stranger stopped me on the street for directions. My bus was just about to arrive so I was debating on whether to stop or not in fear of being late for work. I figured, why not – this might help the person tremendously. So I did, and even assisted the person to her destination as it was on my way. Turns out I was able to help the person out and make it for my bus on time. 

Instagram: @geneseguin. #k4kproject

Sometimes helping someone out does not require the least bit of sacrifices. 

G.

Week Forty One: Giving a Pair of Shoelaces to a Homeless Person.

Every morning, I see this homeless man sitting in front of the grocery store on my bike ride to work. Every morning, I see him compassionately saying hello to all the passersby, never disrupting anyone nor causing trouble. This morning, I decided to hand him something that we don’t necessarily think as being important but that is almost imperative to our everyday lives; shoelaces. With the cooler weather creeping up on us, I thought it would be a good thing for him to have an extra pair of in his possession. 

Instagram: @geneseguin. #k4kproject

This was the biggest smile I’ve seen anyone give in a long time.   

G.

Week Forty: Starting a Small Food Drive.

Week 40; my project will reach its end in twelve weeks. What a self-reflective journey this has been so far. Every week I strive to be more creative and original with my gestures, hoping to affect, help and inspire and the responses has been incredible. Thanks to all who have been fallowing and supporting me throughout this past year.

This week, October was my muse. A transitional and colourful month, where thanks are given and frights are had. Hunger, however, never takes a break no matter the time of year. According to Free the Children’s website, 870 million around the world go hungry and from 2008 to 2012, there was a 31% increase in use of food banks. These numbers are horrifying to me – even more than David Hasselhoff’s performance in any movie, ever. 
So I thought I’d do my share and for Halloween, instead of collecting candy like I used to as a kid, this year, I’ll be collecting canned goods and distributing them to those in need (and save my teeth the aches). I took a box, stuck a note on it and left it in my building’s entrance. At the end of the month, I’ll be bringing whatever I collected to the local food bank. 

Instagram: @geneseguin #k4kproject

Hopefully my neighbours will get in the Halloween spirit and help scare the hunger away.  

G.

Week Thirty Nine: Leaving a Single Use Camera on a Restaurant Patio Table.

I’ve been getting back into photography lately. There’s something about capturing a moment in still life that fascinates me.  Moments that can never be recreated and seen through a third party's lens. Moments that would probably pass right by you if they weren’t being documented; memories are created with a single picture. It’s a feeling and a power like no other.

So I decided to pass on that opportunity to a stranger. I bought a single use camera and wrote a tiny note. After taking a picture of the note with the camera, I left both items on a random restaurant patio table on my way to work. 

My goal was to remind the stranger who would come across it to celebrate and remember everyday moments and experiences, as they often seem to go unnoticed while being caught up in our routines. What better location to leave the camera than a restaurant, I thought, where daily and/or weekly meetings between friends and family occur.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

I’m hoping it pushed that person to enjoy and think about the pleasures and people he/she surrounded him/herself with on a daily basis. It's these little things collectively that makes us who we are.

G.

Week Thirty Eight: Paying for the Next Customer’s Coffee.

As I walked into Bridgehead to grab a coffee and read a bit before going to work one day this week, a thought went through my mind. “Why not leave a bit of spare change with the cashier to cover the next person’s coffee tab?”, I thought. The cashier looked at me when I proposed this and asked: “Why?” with a confused smile on her face. “Because I feel like it,” I said, “It’s that kind of day,” I responded. She beamed at this simple yet refreshing response and kept two dollars on the side. “Have a great day,” she said. “Oh, I will,” I replied, and went about with my day.    

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

G.