I want to switch it up a bit. Normally we hear from the recipients of good deeds. I'd like to give my perspective from the other side.

It started out while standing in line at Tim Horton's in Tecumseh Mall, last Monday, behind two separate elderly people. The one ahead of the other was searching his pockets for change and told the lady behind him to go ahead of him. She politely refused and said she was in no rush. He demanded a few more times until I just said we must all be the only ones who aren't in a rush to go anywhere. It was in that moment I decided it was time to give back.

When I got up to the counter to place my order, instead of purchasing the coffee I was going to get, I purchased 5 gift cards (each with $5 on it). The first I dropped on the counter and said goes to the next in line; I never saw who that was as I just turned and walked away. I then left the mall and went over to Devonshire Mall. I felt like there was more traffic and a higher level of stress. What I thought would take maybe an hour ended up taking 4. I walked around and gave a gift card to anyone who looked me in the eyes and smiled. I quickly learned that smiles don't come easily. It was very disappointing at this time of year to see so many straight, angry, determined, even sometimes disgusted faces. It's safe to say it wiped the remainder of whatever Christmas spirit I had left in me. I went back to Tecumseh Mall where I had two people smile right away. So I go pick up more gift cards only to not get another smile that night.

It's not over yet though.
Everyday this last week I've been walking the malls giving $5 cash to anyone who smiles at me. I focused most of my time at Tecumseh Mall as that's where I was having the most success; it felt great. I stopped focusing on the amount of people that walked by and focused on the ones who actually smiled. That's why I'm here writing.

This experience has been far more rewarding for me than it could ever have had on those who smiled. My Christmas spirit is at an all-time high also. I want to thank everyone reading this just for being yourselves; and to those at the malls who have made it such a wonderful experience. There's one person in particular that has been amazing, I won't name her though; she'll know who she is if she reads this.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone and remember that it pays to smile. I'm still here at the mall hoping to see a few more smiles before Santa arrives on Thursday; he's actually really cool. I've seen him and talked to him a few times. You should come take a picture with him too. You never know, some random person may pay for them again ;-)