On Monday night I couldn’t fall sleep, my brain was on overdrive and I started writing my blog in my head, as lots of us do…..

“I had to write a personal mission statement for a class, along with a values and vision statement, it’s an interesting exercise and I wondered to myself how many people know what their mission in life is? their purpose? what values they hold firm to? and how many of us have a vision for the legacy we wish to leave behind?

What would the world be like if everyone had a clear purpose, and within that purpose was a conscious desire to make the world a better place, a warmer place….”

And then things took a slightly Monty Python turn as I envisioned myself standing in Superstore (a Canadian grocery chain) on an upturned milk crate, at the front near the check-out saying these words:

“It’s 3 o’clock, what does that mean?  It’s time to be seen! This is a cold world, lacking in warmth and connection, half of us are looking at our phones, the others are blankly staring at the magazines and a few are trying to persuade a three-year old they don’t need a treat…what if we all looked up, made eye contact with the person closest, smiled and said HI. What if that small gesture could make the world a warmer place? What if that was the only smile someone might receive today?”

And then I started thinking, what if the store didn’t call the police? What if they liked it and asked me to come every day at at random times and do a call out for everyone to smile…and what if it spread and smile by smile the world became kinder, warmer, more forgiving and open.  And what if folks started coming to the stores just for that.. (and bread and milk of course).

And then this came from nowhere and I had to get up and write it down:

When was the last time I remembered to remember to reflect

on my life, on the quality and quantity of gifts I leave behind, as I travel

through my world what am I leaving in my wake?

Is it the pure energy of inclusion, respect and kindness?

Or it is it mindless?

Finally I could sleep.